One person is dead after a recreational vehicle caught fire Wednesday in Boyle Heights, authorities said.
The fire was reported just before 3:30 p.m. at 3576 E. Whittier Blvd., according to an alert from the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Firefighters extinguished the RV fire, searched inside the vehicle, and found a victim who was determined dead on scene, LAFD said.
The victim has not yet been identified, and it’s unknown if foul play was involved.
Per protocol, an arson investigator responded to the incident, LAFD said.
One neighbor, Will Tomás, said he heard an explosion and initially thought it was an earthquake. He looked around he saw plumes of smoke nearby.
“I saw the fire right behind my property and I was afraid my property was going to catch fire so I called 911,” Tomás said.
Abraham Quitl, who works at a nearby restaurant, said RVs are a common sight in the area around Collegiate Charter High School.
“A lot of stuff goes on in that alley. There’s always people dumping stuff … I’ve seen it all,” Quitl said.
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My background: I was part of the team that launched De Los, a new section of the Los Angeles Times exploring Latino identity. I’ve been a local reporter for The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, and The Orange County Register. You can find my writing on religion, food, and culture in The Atlantic, Eater, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and Religion News Service. My upbringing spans South Central, El Monte, and Pomona.
What I do: I write about how decisions surrounding immigration, city hall, schools, health, religion and culture impact Boyle Heights and East LA. I do this by spending time with residents and community members, reaching out to civic and elected leaders, and by analyzing related research. I also mentor Boyle Heights Beat youth journalists.
Why LA: It’s where I’m from. Reporting and living here means appreciating the different neighborhood identities that make up LA. Also, nothing beats walking along the LA River, hiking at Debs Park, or catching a sunset while running on the Sixth Street Bridge in Boyle Heights.
The best way to contact me: My email is alejandra.molina@boyleheightsbeat.org.
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