Fire Traps Woman in Encino Elevator

A fire trapped a woman in an elevator in a seven-story building in Encino Wednesday and forced the evacuation of 100 occupants of the building.

Firefighters were called to 16661 Ventura Blvd., near Balboa Avenue, just before 2 p.m. on the report of smoke coming from a vault connected to an elevator shaft, said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The woman was located, freed and evaluated. She declined transport to a hospital, Scott said. The cause of the fire was electrical, the dollar loss was $2,500, and 139 firefighters responded to the scene and spent hours removing the smoke, Scott said.