b$.$ An elderly man died early Tuesday when fire engulfed his home on $20$th Street. Shortly after $3$:$30$ a$.$m$.$ firefighters received a call that the house was ablaze, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. $"$It took $20$ firefighters $14$ minutes to extinguish the blaze," Humphrey said. Firefighters found the $75-$year$-$old man, whose identity has not been released, inside the house after extinguishing the blaze. Cause of the fire was careless smoking. of ficials said. Damage was estimated at $$40,000.$