Fire in Retirement Home Kills Man, 85

A small fire broke out Monday morning at a Canoga Park retirement home, killing an 85-year-old man and forcing the temporary evacuation of several residents, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported.

An employee of the Topanga Park Retirement Living Center tried to rescue the man from his burning room but was driven back and suffered slight injuries from smoke inhalation, fire officials said. The name of the victim, who had lived at the center about two years, was not released pending notification of his family.

Fire Inspector Manny Hernandez said the cause of the blaze was believed to be an electrical short circuit, possibly from a reading lamp used by the victim. The fire started near the man’s bed but he was not a smoker, officials said. The fire caused an estimated $5,000 damage to the dead man’s room, fire officials said.