By CHIARA CANZI Special to the Daily Press
EASTSIDE A fire sparked by a possible electrical problem left a homeless man dead inside an art studio in Santa Monica late Tuesday night, authorities said.
Firefighters quickly doused the flames reported around 10:25 p.m. inside a one-room studio at 3028 Nebraksa Ave. and later discovered the body of a man who appeared to be in his 60s, said Santa Monica Fire Department Communications Deputy Scott Ziegert.
No Identification was found at the scene and investigators with the fire and police departments were awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the man’s identity and the cause of death.
The owner of the studio and of an adjacent antique repair shop declined to comment. Both appeared visibly distraught. Authorities said the owner of the studio allowed the man to sleep there.
The dollar loss and and cause of the fire are still under investigation.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 10, 2008. Read the original PDF.