SOUTH-CENTRAL : 2 Girls Die in Separate Fires at Duplex, House

Two young girls were killed in separate fires that gutted residences in South-Central Los Angeles, authorities said Friday.

Chelsea Lewis, 6, died and her mother, Gail, was critically injured when a fire engulfed their unit in a duplex in the 4200 block of West 25th Street in the West Adams neighborhood.

The young girl was pronounced dead at Brotman Medical Center about 30 minutes after the fire, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The girl’s mother, 35, was in critical condition at Sherman Oaks Hospital and Health Center, where she was being treated for first- and second-degree burns and smoke inhalation.

Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells said the fire began Friday afternoon when combustibles were placed too close to a floor furnace.

Earlier Friday, authorities said firefighters who put out a Thanksgiving night fire in the 600 block of West 49th Place found the body of 13-year-old Shannelle Williams.

When firefighters arrived at the residence, they found it engulfed in flames, according to fire spokesman Brian Humphrey.

Nine people--three adults and six children--were in the house when the blaze broke out, he said. Eight were able to escape, Humphrey said.