WILMINGTON, California – Investigators are working to determine the cause of an explosion in a compressed natural gas tank that left nine firefighters injured in Wilmington. The incident occurred on Thursday just before 7 a.m. when a truck driver noticed something was wrong with the vehicle and called 911.
The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that six minutes after firefighters arrived on the scene, one of the tanks exploded, causing severe injuries. As a result, nine firefighters were hospitalized, with two in critical condition. Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley provided an update during a press conference, stating that one of the firefighters in critical condition was stable, while the other had to be intubated and was taken to the burn unit at Los Angeles General Medical Center.
By Friday morning, seven of the injured firefighters had been released from the hospital. The Los Angeles Fire Department Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Specialists responded to the scene to ensure the safety of responders and bystanders. They widened the radius of the exclusion zone to 500 feet in case of a potential second blast. Additionally, a robot known as “Thermite RS3” was used to put water on the remaining cylinder to contain any potential hazard.
The incident also led to the evacuation of around 75 residents on East Young Street due to concerns about hazardous material on the truck. However, Hazmat teams confirmed that there was no toxic hazard in the air at any point. As of the time of writing, the area remains cordoned off as investigators continue their work to determine the cause of the explosion.
The incident is a reminder of the risks that first responders face in their line of duty, and it highlights the importance of safety protocols when dealing with hazardous materials. As investigators work to determine the cause of the explosion, the impacted community and the Los Angeles Fire Department continue to focus on recovery and prevention.