Elderly Woman Critically Hurt After Cigarette Ignites Fire
An elderly woman was in critical condition and her son was in serious but stable condition Friday after they were burned in a fire that raced through a room of their home in the Jefferson Park neighborhood Thursday evening, city fire officials said.
The fire, in the 2000 block of west 28th Street, started after a lit cigarette ignited a piece of furniture, spokesman Brian Humphrey said.
Beebee Nickerson, 81, suffered second- and third-degree burns over 60% of her body and was on a respirator Friday, said a representative for County-USC Medical Center.
Her 61-year-old son, Howard, is also at the hospital with first- and second-degree burns over 6% of his body. No information was available on two others who suffered minor injuries.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
