A 73-year-old man was critically burned Friday in an explosion at a Van Nuys residential property.
Firefighters were sent to the 6900 block of North Murietta Avenue at 12:50 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department reported.
“Firefighters secured the utilities and confirmed (there were) no remaining patients in the house,” said Margaret Stewart of the LAFD. “The main house does not appear to be affected, only the garage. The occupant reports using the kitchen oven prior to the explosion.”
Stewart initially described the man’s injuries as non-life-threatening, but later said he suffered “critical, life-threatening burns.” His name was not immediately released.
The department’s arson section was summoned “due to the severity of the burn injury,” and an Urban Search and Rescue team was also sent to the scene, Stewart said.
The source of the explosion was under investigation.