This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
A man was critically injured after he went into his burning Van Nuys apartment to save his pet cat on Sunday.
The fire was reported at 1:23 p.m. at a three-story apartment on the 8100 block of Langdon Avenue, according to CBS Los Angeles. The 50-year-old man had gotten out of his apartment safely, but then went back in to save his pet.
Firefighters had to rescue the man and rushed him to the hospital. He was in critical condition from smoke inhalation. His cat is reported to be doing fine and is being taken care of by the man's neighbors.
The blaze was knocked down in 16 minutes, according to City News Service. Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department said that the man was cooking when the fire started from a kitchen ventilation fan and spread through the apartment.
