Body Found in Burned-Out North Hills Building After Fire
Body Discovered After Fire in North Hills Building
LOS ANGELES – Authorities confirmed that a body was discovered in a vacant commercial building that was engulfed in flames earlier this week in North Hills. The fire occurred on Tuesday evening, January 13, at approximately 6 p.m. in the 15200 block of Parthenia Street, just two blocks east of Sepulveda Boulevard.
The two-story structure, which had been unoccupied, posed a threat to a nearby apartment complex, leading to significant damage. By Wednesday afternoon, 41 apartments were yellow-tagged, indicating they were unsafe for occupancy.
Emergency responders transported a woman in her 40s to a hospital in fair condition due to suspected smoke inhalation. Additionally, two women from the adjacent apartment building received treatment at the scene, while a third declined further medical assistance.
A total of 27 residents, comprising six adults and 21 children, were displaced from their homes, primarily due to broken glass and smoke damage.
Investigators utilized search dogs trained to locate human remains the following morning, confirming the presence of a body within the debris by Thursday afternoon. Neighbors reported that homeless individuals were known to seek refuge in the building, which had formerly served as a church.
"LAFD units including Heavy Equipment, Arson, and specialized search dog teams coordinated a systematic search over the course of three days and have located a body inside the structure affected by this fire," the Los Angeles Fire Department stated.
As of now, the identity, gender, and cause of death of the individual remain unclear. The LAFD, LAPD, and the Medical Examiner are collaborating to recover the body.
This incident marks the second significant fire emergency in the San Fernando Valley within a span of just over 12 hours, following another fire that severely damaged a commercial building in Winnetka early Tuesday morning.
The LAFD’s Arson Section is investigating the causes of both incidents.
