It was a fiery day in the 700 block of the South Westlake Avenue in Los Angeles, California. A fire that began in the apartment of a 58-year-old resident, killed him and displaced at least 11 other residents. In all, two children and nine adults have been displaced from the 10-unit building. Seventy-one firefighters had to be pressed into service to bring the fire under control. Luckily for the residents, the flames were contained in the apartment where the fire started.

The fire caused an approximated $50,000 worth of damage to the building and $5,000 to the contents of the building. The cause of the fire is not clear.

One thing is clear however. The residents were living inside a ticking time bomb as far as the danger of a fire was concerned. Investigations have revealed that the building was equipped with basic fire sprinklers. The apartment of the man killed, Doug Jones, where the fire is believed to have started did not even have a functioning smoke alarm. With safety conditions like these, the residents have their good fortune and some Christmas blessings to thank for the fact that they escaped without injuries. They certainly aren’t alive because the building management did their job right - that’s for sure.

For now, one man is dead, and 11 people face an extremely uncertain future. The fact that the accident happened in a festive season makes it even more distressing. The residents have been referred to the Red Cross for placement assistance, but it will be a while before they feel comfortable in their new apartments once again.

A fire in a residential building can be a devastating experience. Most fires take a second to ignite and barely a few minutes to cause extensive damage. California law mandates that apartments should be fitted with smoke alarms. The management at block 700 was obviously negligent in its responsibilities, thereby being responsible for the damage and destruction caused by the fire.

If you have been injured or a loved-one has been killed due to a fire caused by negligence, contact the California persona injury and wrongful death lawyers at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.