LOS ANGELES – One firefighter was killed and another was critically injured yesterday afternoon when an explosion rocked an intersection near Los Angeles International Airport and heavily damaged the Water and Power Community CU building.
The deadly blast came after firefighters were sent to respond to reports of exploding manhole covers and observed dark smoke coming from the credit union. After they entered the rear of the building to investigate the explosion occurred, injuring the two firefighters.
The blast caused heavy damage to the credit union, with a huge hole blown out of the side of the two-story building.
The explosion caused major traffic tie-ups near the airport as firefighters continued to check other manhole covers and clear the area for rescue helicopters.
The cause of the explosion was unknown last night, but authorities believe it resulted from a malfunction of the electrical vaults underneath the streets.
