The cause of the fire inside a West Los Angeles high-rise apartment building that critically hurt a child and her grandfather was deemed "undetermined" but likely sparked by "discarded fire material," the Los Angeles Fire Department said Wednesday.
Rescuers of Toddler, Grandfather Meet Grateful Family
The fire broke out inside an 11th-floor unit at 11740 Wilshire Blvd., the 25-floor Barrington Plaza, on Oct. 18, 2013. The blaze sent thick smoke into the building's upper floors and nearly 150 people were displaced.
At least 10 people were hurt, including a 2-year-old girl and her grandfather who were critically injured. One pet dog also died in the fire, and three were treated for non-life-threatening burns.
USDA Suspends Foster Farms Plant Over Cockroaches
Los Angeles fire officials said in a statement Wednesday the cause of the high-rise fire was "undetermined, most probably discarded smoking material." Officials did not specify what type of smoking material was discarded.
Built in 1961, the Barrington Plaza's 240-unit Building A was not equipped with a sprinkler system -- a feature that was not required when the building was constructed.
