Police, fire crews and neighbors scrambled to rescue a woman from a raging fire that burned her South Los Angeles home early Tuesday morning.
The fire was reported before 1 a.m. on the 800 block of 74th Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Officer Christopher Carnahan of the Los Angeles Police Department 77th Division was driving around the area when Officer Micaela Gastellum noticed a big cloud of smoke coming from the area. When they pulled over, neighbors were screaming that a woman was stuck inside the flaming house.
The officers scaled the brick wall and attempted to kick in a door, but it was blocked by a washing machine.
A firefighter was able to saw off the metal bars blocking the windows and Carnahan handed the woman inside a chair. She was able to escape and climb out the window into Carnahan's arms.
"It’s kind of one of those things where you're in the right place at the right time. I'm thankful my partner saw it. Her seeing the smoke gave us the opportunity to make sure the lady made it out of the house OK," Carnahan said.
Gatellum said rescuing is just part of her job.
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"This is a team effort," she said.
Neighbors attempted to save the woman by prying the door with a crowbar when it couldn't open.
"We tried. We did our best," a neighbor said. "We're neighbors, and we gotta do our best."
The woman was taken to the hospital, but Gastellum said she should continue to be in good health.
A dog was rescued but died at the scene.
The cause of the fire was unknown.
