An adult is in critical condition Wednesday following an explosion at an apartment complex in Bell Gardens.
Los Angeles County Fire Department fire crews were called at 6:08 p.m. Tuesday to the 6500 block of Purdy Avenue, south of East Gage Avenue, where they encountered heavy flames at the two-story complex following the explosion, a LACOFD spokeswoman told City News Service.
Firefighters extinguished the flames shortly before 7:10 p.m. Tuesday. The second floor of the complex appeared to have significant damage, with a large section of the front missing and parts of the roof collapsed, video from the scene showed.
The child and the adult victim — whose name, gender and age were not immediately known — were taken to a hospital in stable and critical conditions, respectively.
Four to six families from the complex were displaced by the fire and the Red Cross was contacted to assist them with temporary housing, the fire department said.
According to reports from the scene, the fire could be seen from several blocks away.
Emilio Guerrero, who lives in the area, said he saw “a big ball of fire” subsequent to the explosion.
Fire officials confirmed that all utilities were shut off at the residence and that the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.