LOS ANGELES, CA – A total of seven Los Angeles firefighters were injured, with two in critical condition, following an explosion that occurred while they were responding to a truck fire in the Wilmington area on Thursday morning, according to authorities.
The explosion occurred just before 7 a.m, causing six firefighters to be taken to the hospital. Nicholas Prange, a spokesman for the fire department, revealed that the incident involved a truck with pressurized cylinders, and that a total of 10 firefighters had been dispatched to the scene.
Although Prange did not have information on the truck driver’s condition, he stated that the explosion happened 13 minutes after the fire was reported. He expressed hope that the driver was able to clear the area in time.
It was noted that the cylinders in the truck may have contained compressed natural gas. Television helicopter footage revealed the complete destruction of the truck, with a small flame still burning in the wreckage over an hour after the explosion.
The blast occurred near an industrial area, separated from a residential neighborhood by a wide street and a rail line. Wilmington, situated 18 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, is in close proximity to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.