LA explosion: Firefighters search building shattered by gas leak
LA explosion in a commercial building kills one man and left another critically injured by a downed power line.
LA explosion: Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department urban search and rescue team survey damage after a suspected natural gas explosion at a welding shop collapsed part of the building hurling two workers into the street, killing one and leaving the other in critical condition, Friday, July 30, in Los Angeles.
Gus Ruelas/AP
Los Angeles
Los Angeles firefighters are searching a commercial building that was shattered by an apparent gas leak explosion that killed one man and left another critically injured by a downed power line.
Fire Capt. Stephen Ruda says natural gas or another industrial gas may have built up overnight and was ignited at about 6:15 a.m. Friday.
An explosion collapsed the front of the wooden building and hurled a worker into the street where he was wedged under a car.
Ruda says a man working across the street was critically hurt when he went to move his truck away from the wreckage and was jolted by 34,500 volts from a downed electrical line.
A secretary says the business made metal security fences and the owner usually arrived in the morning to start a furnace used in heat-curing coatings.
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