12-Year-Old Boy Dies in Fire; 3 Others Hurt

A 12-year-old boy was killed and three other people, including another child, suffered serious burns Wednesday in a fire that gutted the garage and kitchen of a house in Arleta.

Arleta fire spokesman Jim Wells said the blaze, in the 9800 block of Stanwin Avenue, was reported at 2:57 p.m. and was extinguished about 15 minutes later. The identities of the victims were not immediately available. Wells said the second child, believed to be 4 or 5, was in critical condition with second-degree burns over 40% of his body.

Two men, a 36-year-old and a 44-year-old, suffered second- and third- degree burns over 80% of their bodies. The fire broke out while some type of work was under way at the house, Wells said. Damage was estimated at $9,000.