A home in Koreatown was severely damaged by a major fire early Friday morning.
Firefighters were dispatched to the 950 block of S. Kenmore Avenue around 10 a.m. after learning of the fire at a home built in 1901, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
It took crews just under 20 minutes to extinguish the fire, which was classified as a Major Alarm due to the massive flames and smoke.
One of the home’s residents tried to run back into the house to rescue their 15-year-old dog, a Maltese named “Marty McFly,” but was unable to get back inside due to the intensity of the fire.
However, when firefighters entered the house, they could not find the dog and learned that he had already come out.
The resident who attempted to enter the home was treated at the scene for minor injuries and smoke exposure. He did not require hospitalization.
A firefighter was also injured during the incident, suffering a “significant” laceration to his left hand, LAFD officials said. The firefighter received clinical care and is expected to return to work soon.
“While the cause of the fire has yet to be formally determined, the investigation is currently focusing on a handful of small lithium-ion batteries on the patio, which may prove to be the cause of the fire,” LAFD said.
