Westminster man killed in Pico Rivera fire is identified

Authorities confirmed Monday that a man died in last week’s Pico Rivera strip mall fire that left three people, including a firefighter, injured.

The body of Vy Lam, 49, of Westminster was found in a nail salon, Coroner’s spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani said. The coroner determined that he died from the combined effects of burns and smoke inhalation.

The cause of the Nov. 13 fire on the 9300 block of East Whittier Boulevard is under investigation.

The fire department received a report about a fire at a strip mall just after 8 p.m.  A nail salon was on fire when firefighters arrived, according to Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Sean Ferguson. He said the fire went into the attic but firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading further.

Another unit in the strip mall sustained water damage, Ferguson said.

One woman suffering from smoke inhalation and burns was taken to the hospital that night, he said. Firefighters treated a man and a firefighter at the scene for minor injuries.