Man, 84, found dead in converted garage at scene of Northridge house fire

NORTHRIDGE — A man in his 80s was found dead early Monday morning at the scene of a fire in a converted garage at a house in Northridge.

Firefighters sent to the 17000 block of Knapp Street at 6:21 a.m. found the man and extinguished the flames in 13 minutes, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The man’s name was not immediately released. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

“Firefighters arrived quickly to find smoke showing from the rear of a 3,191-square-foot single-family home and soon discovered contents ablaze within an attached garage that had been converted into living quarters,” Humphrey said in a statement.

“During fire attack, firefighters discovered an 84-year-old male lifeless within the garage conversion,” Humphrey said. “Beyond medical help, he was determined dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.”

Humphrey said firefighters prevented the flames from extending into the attached home or attic.

“There was no immediate evidence of the home being equipped with functional smoke alarms as required by law,” Humphrey said. “The 47-year-old structure was not equipped with optional residential fire sprinklers. A positive identification of the decedent, as well as the specific cause, time and manner of his death, will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.”

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