Nine Los Angeles firefighters were hospitalized, two in critical condition, after a truck with pressurized cylinders caught fire and exploded in Wilmington on Thursday morning, Feb. 15, while they were trying to put out the flames.
The firefighters were taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance with one, who required intubation, then airlifted to Los Angeles General Hospital, a surgeon said at a late-morning press conference at Harbor-UCLA.
Four suffered moderate injuries and three had minor injuries, said Capt. Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Ten firefighters had responded, just before 7 a.m., to the fire involving the semi-tractor, which wasn’t pulling a trailer, at 1120 N. Alameda St. near Henry Ford Avenue, LAFD spokesman Nicholas Prange said.
Los Angeles firefighters were injured in an explosion of a truck in Wilmington on Thursday. They had responded to the truck, which had caught fire. (Photo courtesy of KABC7)
The truck ran on compressed natural gas and was equipped with two 100-pound tanks, one on either side. The driver had “noticed abnormalities” with the truck, Scott said, and she got out and called 911.
About six minutes after firefighters arrived, one tank exploded, injuring the firefighters.
A Ring doorbell camera near the scene captured the loud explosion, followed by one small burst that briefly sent fire into the sky.
The second tank continued to burn for hours after the explosion, but no homes or other buildings were in danger, and no evacuations were needed, Scott said.
A truck exploded in #LosAngeles this morning and injured 10 firefighters. Follow along for updates in the #CitizenApp. #citizen #omg #wtf #losangeles_city #losángeles #losangelescalifornia #crazymoments #viral pic.twitter.com/mU3phXujy2
— Citizen (@CitizenApp) February 15, 2024
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The explosion occurred at a point in the road where Alameda meets Henry Ford Avenue near a recycling facility. Train tracks on the west side of Alameda separate the road from a residential neighborhood. A small hotel sits farther south.
Following the explosion, some 150 firefighters responded and triaged the injured firefighters while also using hose lines to extinguish a small fire, Scott said.
The cause of the fire and subsequent explosion were unclear.
“Today is a day where all of us take a moment to recognize how intrinsically dangerous firefighting can be,” LAFD Chief Kristen Crowley said. “I’m reminded of how heroic our members are.”
Dr. Molly Deane, a surgeon, said the proximity of the incident to the hospital helped get the firefighters quick care. They were evaluated for burn, blast and airway injuries.
“It’s remarkable that none of them (aren’t) more severely injured, after watching the footage,” she said.
In a statement, Los Angeles Councilman Tim McOsker, whose district includes Wilmington, said: “I’m grateful for the brave first responders of our great Fire Department who arrived quickly to contain the situation, racing towards danger to protect our community.
“It’s a reminder of how dangerous this job is and how selfless and courageous these first responders are,” the councilman said.
