Probe continues into fatal fire in building housing recording studios

The investigation continues into the cause of a fire that left a man dead in an industrial building in Hollywood housing recording studios where the daughter of television personality Sharon Osbourne was inside with a producer.

The fire was reported at about 5:40 p.m. Thursday in the two-story concrete building in the 6600 block of West Lexington Avenue, between Highland Avenue and Vine Street, said Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

“There was an abundance of small individual recording studios inside, creating a very compartmentalized layout, which was extremely challenging to navigate and crawl through in zero visibility,” Prange said.

“Additionally, the studios had sound-deadening thick walls, extra insulation, double drywall, and thick windows,” Prange said. “While this design was intended to keep the sound from escaping, it also excelled at keeping the smoke and heat from escaping. Firefighters inside took a beating during a very hot and intense battle, but were relentless and extinguished the flames in 51 minutes.”

Two people were evaluated at the scene for smoke inhalation, but declined to be taken to a hospital, the LAFD reported.

“Tragically, during their systematic interior search, firefighters discovered one person deceased in the structure,” Prange said. “Human Remains Detection K9s were called to search the area and, thankfully, did not find any other victims.”

Authorities withheld the name of the man who was found dead, pending notification of his relatives.

“After the flames were extinguished, firefighters discovered marijuana upstairs, which appeared to be a grow operation,” Prange said. “LAFD’s Fire Prevention Bureau was notified and fire inspectors from the Cannabis Unit responded to review previous records, inspect the building, help determine if this was legal, and — in a joint effort with fire investigators — determine if it contributed to the cause of the fire. These investigations remain active (and) currently no conclusions have been made.”

Osbourne said in an Instagram post that her daughter Aimee and her producer escaped the fire.

“They are the lucky two that made it out alive,” she wrote. “It is utterly heartbreaking that someone lost their life today in this fire & we are sending our prayers to this person & their family. What happened today was beyond horrific. I really hope moving forward that buildings like this are better regulated for fire safety.”

More from Fire