An 81-year-old woman died from burns suffered during a fire in a South L.A. home. Authorities have deemed the single-story house fire, which occurred on Tuesday, "unintentional." The woman was trapped among "packrat storage of personal belongings," according to a LAFD release. more ›

A fire last night in a Riverside home proved to be a unique challenge for firefighters because the house was "packed to the ceiling with items," according to cbs2. The fire was sparked by "an electrical problem" and was troubling for the responding crew since "the kitchen and back porch area [...] were stuffed with clutter and there was no way to get inside" and, further, "there was concern that embers had ignited hidden fires in other rooms." more ›

Although Los Angeles firefighters knocked down flames in 17 minutes at an early morning fire in Harbor Gateway, one man pronounced dead inside the home. The blaze began around 4:45 a.m. at 15925 Orchard Ave. Officials say pack rat conditions, often referred on the east coast as a Collyers' Mansion, were found inside. Back in 1999, about six people died in "pack rat" fires per year, the LA Times found. "Almost all pack rats--also known as hoarders, recyclers and clutterers--live in squalid conditions that violate Los Angeles County health and safety codes, officials say," reported the Times. "They can expose themselves and neighbors to airborne respiratory illness and diseases carried by the rodents and insects that often take refuge in pack-rat dwellings. In many cases, a pack rat's home or apartment is essentially a huge tinderbox." As for today's fire, it is unknown if the home was in code violation. more ›