LOS ANGELES — One person was detained Sunday after three people died in a house fire in Temple City.
Two other people were hospitalized, fire officials confirmed.
Firefighters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were sent to the home in the 6000 block of Sultana Avenue at around 4:50 p.m. and were able to knock down the fire in 30 minutes.
But due to a “heavy heat” from the flames, three people died, the department said.
“Unfortunately they arrived to heavy smoke and fire showing from the front of the building,” Fred Fielding with the LA County Fire Department said. “Immediately we went into rescue mode but we were unable to save those three.”
While it’s not clear how the fire started, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced Sunday evening that the deaths were being investigated as possible homicides.
A neighbor said she ran out of her house when she heard screaming and whaling.
“I saw the whole house inside was full on fire -- fire coming out of the windows,” said Jane Guzman De Leon, who called 911.
Guzman De Leon said she saw two elderly men, who didn’t speak English, came out of the house as one of them had blood on his forehead while the other had his skin peeling.
Authorities have not released the identities of the victims.
No other homes in the area were affected.
