Businesses Shut Down After Underground Blast Near LAX; No Injuries
WESTCHESTER (CBSLA.com) — Investigators were looking into possible causes behind an underground explosion in Westchester on Wednesday that left left traffic stalled and power shut down to local businesses.
KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports there were no injuries from the blast along Sepulveda and Lincoln Boulevards near Los Angeles International Airport, but there were plenty of other complications.
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Firefighters received the first calls reporting the incident shortly after 10:30 a.m., according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott.
Scott said despite the force of the explosion that blew two 300-pound manhole covers into the air as far as 15 feet away, nobody was injured in the blast.
"Fortunately when firefighters arrived on scene, there was just some residual smoke that was pouring out of these displaced manhole covers, there was no active flame or fire, and fortunately no one was injured," said Scott.
Nearby businesses were closed as crews worked to restore power lost after the explosion. Traffic near LAX was initially slowed to a crawl as utility trucks made their way to the scene.
Fire, police and officials with the Department of Water and Power are investigating, but there was no evidence of any suspicious activity, Scott said.
