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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Two Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters remained hospitalized in critical condition Friday with injuries sustained in a powerful truck explosion in Wilmington, but seven others who were injured have been released.
The explosion occurred shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday in the 1100 block of North Alameda Street, where crews initially responded to a report of a vehicle fire. The vehicle turned out to be a truck powered by compressed natural gas and outfitted with two 100-gallon CNG fuel canisters.
One of the canisters, which were pressurized at 3,300 pounds, exploded, sending a fireball into the air even exploding a nearby power transformer, according to the LAFD.
Nine firefighters were injured and taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said. One of the firefighters was subsequently flown to Los Angeles General Medical Center to be treated in a burn unit.
That firefighter and the other critically injured firefighter both remained hospitalized Friday, Scott said.
"One is in stable but critical condition at Los Angeles General in the burn center ICU and the other remains admitted for observation at Harbor- UCLA," Scott said. "But we are glad to say that seven of the injured members have been released from the hospital. They will receive ongoing treatment and support to begin this long healing process."
Scott said the firefighters suffered various injuries such as burns, blunt force trauma, shrapnel wounds and "affects to their hearing."
"So of course our thoughts and our prayers remain with our injured brothers and we are wishing them a speedy recovery," Scott said.
Scott said Thursday the woman driving the truck had "noticed some abnormalities of the tanks" and got out of the vehicle and called 911. The woman, who was not injured, remained on scene and cooperated with investigators, Scott said.
Scott said of the nine injured firefighters, two were critically injured, four suffered "moderate" injuries and three suffered minor injuries. The cause of the blast was under investigation.
About 150 firefighting personnel were sent to the scene to handle the aftermath of the blast, including hazardous-materials specialists. Firefighters and law enforcement personnel set up a 500-foot radius around the site of the blast as a precaution.
The gas in the second cylinder was slowly released into the air, and much of it had dissipated by late morning. No evacuations were ordered of nearby homes, although residents were advised to stay indoors as a precaution.
"Today is a day, I think, where all of us can take a moment to recognize how intrinsically dangerous firefighting can be," LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley said Thursday outside Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Crowley said a "Significant Incident Review Team" would investigate the incident.
"This team is highly trained, and it will look at every single aspect of this incident and gather the opportunities for improvement and lessons learned," Crowley said.
Crowley said was able to spend some time with the injured firefighters.
"I've taken the opportunity to meet with every single one of our nine members, and to look at them and their faces was something that I will never forget," Crowley said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accompanied LAFD personnel and other officials at the news conference.
"I'm here with a simple message to our firefighters in the building behind me, and at fire stations across our city, watching the news this morning unfold: the 4 million people of Los Angeles stand with you," Bass said.
"While Angelenos were barely waking up and making their first cup of coffee, our LAFD firefighters were courageously responding to this blaze -- putting their lives on the line to protect each one of us, as they do every single day."
Dr. Molly Deane of Harbor UCLA Medical Center said the firefighters who were injured in the explosion suffered various levels of burn and blast injuries, and she noted that after seeing video of the explosion, "Frankly it's remarkable none of them were more severely injured."