On Saturday, March 12, 2005, at 1937 hours (7:37 p.m. PST), four Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, one LAFD Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, one LAFD Battalion EMS Supervisor, and three LAFD fire cause Investigators under the direction of Battalion Commander Michael Rhodes, responded to a Civilian Fatality Structure Fire at 855 East 103rd Place in South Los Angeles.

First units on scene reported a one-story, single family dwelling with smoke showing from the rear and reports of a person trapped inside. Firefighters utilized forcible entry tools to cut away a steel entry door and quickly entered the structure with handlines to battle flames in a back bedroom that was fully involved with fire.

During fire suppression and the initial search, the body of a seventy-one year old female was found inside the bedroom, brought out of the structure and declared dead at the scene.

The fire was extinguished in just fifteen minutes. No other injuries were reported.

Firefighters discovered a melted smoke alarm in the area of the bedroom but were unable to determine if it was functioning at the time of the fire. Fire damage is estimated at $25,000. ($20,000 structure and $5,000 contents). The cause of the fire is listed as under investigation.