Fire officials: As many as 13 people injured in apartment fire near downtown LA

As many as 13 injured in LA apartment fire

LOS ANGELES — As many as 13 people were injured Saturday in an apartment fire just west of downtown Los Angeles, including a woman who jumped from a window and a 5-year-old girl who suffered third degree burns, authorities said.

Crews plucked residents from windows in the three-story building after the fire broke out about 9 a.m. in a corner apartment, city fire Capt. Steve Ruda said.

“We had a ladder in nearly every window. People left their breakfast plates on the table as they scrambled to get out quickly,” he said.

The injuries included smoke inhalation, broken bones and scrapes, Ruda said. Two people were in critical condition, including the burned 5-year-old.

One woman was critically injured when she broke a leg while jumping from the building, Ruda said.

The fire started on the second floor of the 42-unit apartment building in a densely populated area about a mile west of downtown. At least one second-floor unit was destroyed, and flames lapped up to third floor.

“This was a large place. It could have been a lot worse,” Ruda said.

Ruda didn’t know how many people were living in the building.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Eds: CORRECTS woman broke a leg, not both legs, according to fire captain; CLARIFIES area of damage; ADDS AP Photo pursuing.