At least seven firefighters were injured Thursday, two critically, when a 100-gallon compressed natural gas cylinder being used to a power a semi-truck exploded near the Port of Los Angeles.
Firefighters were originally sent to the 1100 block of North Alameda Street shortly before 7 a.m. on a report of a vehicle fire, according to Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
“Firefighters arrived to find a CNG-powered semi truck — tractor-only — on fire, and deployed hose lines to address the flames,” Prange said.
“Six minutes after 10 firefighters arrived on scene … an explosion injured at least seven of our members — two of which were in critical condition — and all seven (were) transported to area hospitals,” Prange said.
There was no immediate word on the full extent of the firefighters’ injuries. LAFD officials and Mayhor Karen Bass were expected to hold a late-morning news conference outside the emergency department entrance at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance to provide an update.
There were no reports of any other injuries. The status of the truck driver was unclear. Fire officials said it was unclear how the original fire began, or if the truck was moving or stationary when it occurred.
Fire officials said the explosion sent a large plume of smoke into the air, and the force of the blast even caused a nearby pole-mounted electrical transformer to explode.
LAFD hazardous-materials specialists were sent to the scene, and firefighters set up a 500-foot perimeter around the location of the blast. According to the LAFD, the truck was equipped with two 100-gallon CNG tanks, one of which exploded. Gas from the second cylinder was slowly being released into the air, and much of it had dissipated by late morning, fire officials said.
Prange said no evacuations had been ordered of nearby homes, although residents were advised to stay indoors as a precaution.
More than 150 firefighters were sent to the scene, Prange said.
Prange reminded the public that it is illegal to fly drones within 500 feet of an emergency incident “without clearance,” and he urged motorists to seek alternate routes around the explosion area.