Man, 35, dies in Long Beach fire late Wednesday

A 35-year-old man died after a fire at his Long Beach home, officials said today.

Authorities responded to reports of a structure fire in the 500 block of West 7th Street, east of the 710 Freeway, about 10:20 p.m. Wednesday, said Jake Heflin of the Long Beach Fire Department.

Twenty-one firefighters responded to the scene – where smoke was emanating from the back of a two-story fourplex – and extinguished the blaze at 10:35 p.m, Heflin said.

In the first-floor apartment where the fire originated, firefighters found the victim, who had stopped breathing, and initiated lifesaving measures, according to Heflin. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead in the emergency room, he said.

Patrica Robertson, 59, who lives in the building where the fire broke out, and said she witnessed a firefighter giving CPR to the victim.

“I just can’t get rid of seeing the body,” Robertson said.

The victim and the other man who lived at the apartment were neighborly, courteous people, she said, adding that she was only casually acquainted with them.

“It was kind of wave and say hi,” she said. “They were very polite, good people.”

Long Beach police and fire authorities are still investigating what caused the blaze, said Heflin.

The victim’s name has not yet been released.

More to come.