Deadly La Mirada Fire and 405 Crash: Two Emergencies in LA County

Key Takeaways

• One person was found dead after an apartment fire in La Mirada late Sunday night.
• Los Angeles County firefighters extinguished the blaze in about 20 minutes.
• Arson investigators with the LA County Sheriff's Department are looking into the cause.
• In Van Nuys, five people were injured when two vehicles crashed and rolled down a 405 Freeway embankment.
• All southbound lanes reopened around 9:20 p.m. after the rescue.

Deadly Apartment Fire in La Mirada

Fire crews responded to a two-story apartment building on Oxford Drive shortly after 11 p.m. Sunday. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said flames were put out in about 20 minutes. One person was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have not said whether the death was accidental or intentional.

Detectives from the LA County Sheriff's Department, including arson investigators, were called to the scene. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. More details are expected as the probe continues.

Five Injured in 405 Freeway Embankment Crash

Separately, the California Highway Patrol reported a serious crash Saturday at 7:03 p.m. on the southbound 405 Freeway just south of Victory Boulevard in Van Nuys. Two vehicles went off the roadway and tumbled about 200 feet down an embankment, coming to rest near Woodley Park.

Firefighters used hydraulic tools to free an injured man from an overturned pickup truck. A sedan also overturned nearby. Video from the scene showed three women and another man near the sedan. All five people were taken by ambulance to area hospitals, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Jennifer Middleton. Their conditions were not immediately available.

A witness told the CHP that one vehicle had been speeding in and out of lanes before the crash. It was unclear which vehicle the witness meant. All southbound lanes were closed for rescue work and reopened by 9:20 p.m.

Local Impact Across Los Angeles County

The two incidents show the wide range of emergency responses in Los Angeles County within a single weekend. La Mirada is in the southeastern part of the county, while Van Nuys is in the San Fernando Valley. Both cases drew multiple agencies, including county fire crews, the CHP, the LAFD, and sheriff's investigators.

Residents near Oxford Drive in La Mirada may see an increased law enforcement presence while the investigation continues. Drivers who use the 405 near Victory Boulevard should expect residual traffic impacts from the earlier closure, though the freeway fully reopened Saturday night.

Background and Context

Apartment fires in Los Angeles County are often caused by cooking, electrical issues, or unattended candles, but official determinations can take days. The presence of arson investigators does not automatically mean a crime occurred; they routinely determine the origin and cause of fatal fires. The 405 Freeway corridor is one of the busiest in the nation, and crashes involving vehicles leaving the roadway and going down embankments are a known hazard in the hilly areas near Woodley Park.

Conclusion

Authorities urge anyone with information about the La Mirada fire or the 405 crash to contact local law enforcement. The investigation into the fire continues, while the injured crash victims receive hospital care. As new details become available, this story will be updated.