Apr 28, 2008 3:21 pm US/Pacific
Blast That Killed Firefighter Under Investigation
LOS ANGELES
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The cause of the blasts was unknown.
CBS
Authorities Thursday were investigating the cause of an explosion that killed a Los Angeles firefighter.
A second firefighter was seriously hurt and a civilian suffered minor injuries in the blast that also heavily damaged a credit union building in Westchester.
Brent A. Lovrien, 35, a 13-year fire veteran, was fatally injured in the last of three blasts Wednesday. Lovrien died shortly after arriving at Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center, LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey said.
Lovrien was blown back and possibly hit by building material when an electrical vault blew apart.
"I can't describe the grief that both I and council member Bill Rosendahl feel for the members of our department and the members of our deceased firefighter's family," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.
Engineer Anthony J. Guzman, 48, an 18-year veteran of the LAFD, was injured in the last blast. Guzman was taken to UCLA Medical Center with multiple fractures and facial trauma and was in serious but stable condition following surgery late Wednesday, Humphrey said.
"I want to say that this points out the dangers that firefighters face every day and the heroism they display every day," Fire Chief Doug Barry said.
A civilian who was slightly injured in the last blast was treated at the scene and later released, Humphrey added.
Firefighters discovered smoke coming from a number of manhole covers and two covers that had already been blown off in two earlier blasts when they were sent to the 8800 block of South Sepulveda Boulevard shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday, city fire Deputy Chief Mario Rueda said.
Around the same time, rescuers arrived at the corner of La Tijera and Sepulveda, where dark smoke was coming from the back of a credit union building, he said.
The two firefighters were trying to access an above-ground electrical panel in the rear of the structure when the third explosion occurred, Rueda added.
L.A. DWP General Manager David Nahai believes there could have been methane or natural gas in the area that contributed to the blast, although Rueda said there was no immediate evidence of any gas leaks.
While the explosions appear to be related to electrical vaults under the street, the cause "is unknown at this point," Rueda said.
Nearly 400 customers were without power, Nahai said.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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