BRIEFLY CARBON MONOXIDE BLAMED IN DEATHS.

QUARTZ HILL - A man and his dog were found dead inside his home Sunday afternoon, apparently victims of carbon monoxide poisoning that may have come from a propane heater, sheriff's deputies said.

The man, identified by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office as 38- year-old Michael Smith, was found inside the home in the 4000 block of West Avenue L-2 about 12:45 p.m., according to Deputy David Patterson of the Sheriff's Department's Lancaster station.

The toxic gas may have come from ``some form of heating device,'' he said.

- Staff and Wire Reports

Fire in home kills couple of canines

WOODLAND HILLS - Two dogs died in a house fire Saturday night in Woodland Hills, officials said.

The fire started about 9:35 p.m. on Ybarra Road, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Thirty firefighters fought the smoky blaze in the one-story house, he said.

After putting out the blaze, firefighters determined the two occupants of the house were not home, Humphrey said. But two dead dogs, probably killed by smoke inhalation, were found inside, he said.

The fire, which was contained to a corner of the house's living room, caused $50,000 damage, Humphrey said.

- City News Service

Chain-reaction crash hurts girl

NORTHRIDGE - A 5-year-old girl suffered minor injuries in a chain-reaction collision involving six vehicles Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

The smash-up on Tampa Avenue at the intersection of Superior Street occurred shortly before 2:30 p.m. when a van ran into a stopped Honda Civic hatchback, causing it to hit another vehicle in a chain-reaction crash, said Officer Luz Montero of the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Traffic Division.

- Daily News