WOMAN, 57, DIES IN HOUSE FIRE.

Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer

ARLETA - A 57-year-old woman died Saturday morning after a fire apparently erupted from fireplace embers in her Sandusky Avenue home, officials said.

Firefighters said Betty G. Meyers had no pulse and was not breathing when she was found in the hallway inside her home in the 9000 block about 12:30 a.m.

She had apparently been searching for her 25-year-old daughter, who managed to escape through a bedroom window and was unharmed.

``She was looking for her daughter,'' said neighbor Anna Zuniga, 19, who was awakened by the screaming of the daughter.

``When I came outside, I heard her yelling, 'My mom is in there. My mom is in there.' (Meyers) thought her daughter was still inside.''

Zuniga described a surrealistic scene early Saturday as rain poured down, and heavy smoke and flames blew out of the home.

``We were all out here, not caring about the rain, trying to help her out,'' Zuniga said. ``It was chaos.''

Zuniga's father broke through a window, entered the smoke-filled home, and attempted to search for the victim.

But after several feet of searching through black smoke, the man turned back.

``He tried to get her out, but he couldn't find her,'' Zuniga said.

Firefighters and paramedics arrived, pulled Meyers out of her home, and attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation before transporting to her to Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Panorama City. She was pronounced dead at 1:05 a.m. The fire was put out within 20 minutes.

``Despite the best efforts of firefighters, paramedics and doctors, their efforts proved fruitless,'' said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.

Also killed in the fire were three of the family's dogs, Zuniga said.

Zuniga's father was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, and returned to work Saturday.

The unidentified daughter was in mourning Saturday with friends, Zuniga said.

Investigators are searching for clues to the cause of the blaze, but it appears to have started from an ember in the fireplace.

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Firefighters work to contain the flames shooting up through the roof of an Arleta home. One woman was killed in the fire.

Mike Meadows/Special to the Daily News