LOS ANGELES, CA – Two Los Angeles firefighters are in critical condition after being injured in a compressed natural gas truck explosion in Wilmington. The incident occurred on Thursday morning in the 1100 block of North Alameda Street, as the firefighters were putting out the fire on the CNG truck. One of the firefighters, a 37-year-old veteran of the LAFD, was airlifted to a burn center for specialized care, while the other remains in critical but stable condition.
According to LAFD Capt. Erik Scott, the explosion occurred when one of the vehicle’s two 100-gallon CNG fuel tanks pressurized to at least 3,000 psi, injuring a total of nine firefighters. The injuries ranged from burns to injuries caused by flying shrapnel, as well as effects to their hearing. Some of the nearby firefighters were thrown dozens of feet from their location and knocked out temporarily due to the force of the explosion.
The truck, which was a big rig cab without a trailer, was not powered by diesel or gasoline, but rather with compressed natural gas. Security camera footage of the explosion showed a large fireball rising above the South Bay community. The truck driver, who was not injured in the incident, had called 911 after noticing something wrong with the vehicle.
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a fuel gas composed mainly of methane that is stored in hard pressurized containers. CNG vehicles have spark-ignited internal combustion engines similar to gasoline-powered vehicles, with the CNG supplied to fuel lines through a pressure regulator. The CNG then enters a combustion chamber, where it mixes with air, is compressed, and ignited by a spark plug.
As of Friday, the majority of the injured firefighters have been released from the hospital. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the explosion and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The explosion serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by firefighters in the line of duty and the importance of safety protocols when dealing with hazardous materials.