9 LA Firefighters Injured In Truck Explosion, 2 In Critical Condition

LOS ANGELES, CA — Three Los Angeles firefighters were hospitalized and nine were injured — two in critical condition — at the scene of a truck explosion in the Wilmington area Thursday morning.

The firefighters were injured when a 100-pound pressurized cylinder on a truck exploded, said Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

They were responding to a call for help for a vehicle fire in the 1100 block of North Alameda Street shortly before 7 a.m., when the explosion occurred, said Prange.

"Firefighters arrived to find a CNG-powered semi truck -- tractor- only -- on fire, and deployed hose lines to address the flames," Prange said. "Six minutes after 10 firefighters arrived on scene ... an explosion injured at least seven of our members -- two of which were in critical condition -- and all seven (were) transported to area hospitals.:

Footage from the scene showed a wide blast scene with a demolished truck and blackened pavement.

"Several other injured are being evaluated on scene, awaiting additional ambulances to arrive — estimated seven total firefighters," Prange said Thursday morning.

The explosion appeared to be linked to a tank of compressed natural gas in the truck's fuel system.

Firefighters had apparently just arrived on the scene when the truck exploded. The driver of the truck noticed a problem, called for help and safely evacuated before the explosion, according to authorities.

Fire officials said the explosion sent a large plume of smoke into the air, and the force of the blast even caused a nearby pole-mounted electrical transformer to explode.

LAFD hazardous-materials specialists were sent to the scene, and firefighters set up a 500-foot perimeter around the location of the blast. According to the LAFD, the truck was equipped with two 100-gallon CNG tanks, one of which exploded. Gas from the second cylinder was slowly being released into the air, and much of it had dissipated by late morning, fire officials said.

Prange said no evacuations had been ordered of nearby homes, although residents were advised to stay indoors as a precaution.

More than 150 firefighters were sent to the scene, Prange said.

One of the firefighters who was critically injured in is now "stable," but may be staying at Harbor UCLA Medical Center for additional observation, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley told reporters at a press conference.

"He was awake and alert and talking, "she added. The firefighter's family is with him at the hospital.

The second critically injured firefighter had to be intubated and was transferred to Los Angeles General Medical Center for treatment at a burn unit.

The firefighters suffered various levels of burn and blast injuries, said Dr. Molly Deane of Harbor UCLA Medical Center.

She noted that after seeing video of the explosion, "Frankly it's remarkable none of them were more severely injured."

Crowley said she visited with the nine firefighters injured and it "was something that I will never forget."

"I'm reminded of how heroic our members are and that each and every day they are putting themselves in harm's way to provide an incredible level of expertise and professionalism to the people that we serve," Crowley said.

A "significant incident review team" will be assembled to review the department's response and tactics employed while responding to Thursday morning's truck fire, and the team will "gather opportunities for improvement."

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, a total of NINE patients were taken to Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Torrance following Thursday morning's truck explosion.

One of the critical patients has been transferred to Los Angeles General Medical Center, which operates a burn center. It's unclear if all nine of the patients were firefighters, but Los Angeles Fire Department officials have said at least seven firefighters were injured. County officials say that outside the two critically injured patients, the other seven are being treated for unspecified "general injuries."

Commuters and residents are advised to avoid the area.

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City News Service contributed to this report.