Electrical Explosion Sends One Man to Hospital
PACOIMA - An explosion near an electrical panel sparks a fire and sends one man to the hospital.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, January 22, 2020, a subcontractor was working at a large one-story commercial building on an electrical-related problem. When going to the main electrical panel, an explosion engulfed him in flames and lit him on fire. Nearby workers quickly used several fire extinguishers to put out the flames on the man and his clothes. Electricity was still arcing in the area when firefighters arrived. LAFD evacuated and isolated the area and staged a safe distance away while waiting for DWP to de-energize the area.
Firefighter-Paramedics quickly assessed the patient, while waiting for DWP, and initiated life-saving measures. Members from an engine joined the Firefighter-Paramedics in the ambulance to transport the critical burn victim to a local hospital without delay.
DWP arrived and cut the power. Firefighters responded from their staged location to put out the remaining fire near the electrical panel. No other injuries were sustained.
Photo by Mike Meadows
