LA Electrical Vault Explodes, Knocks Out Power
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An underground electrical vault has exploded in flames, shattering windows and cutting power to a 15-story downtown Los Angeles medical building.
No one was hurt.
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The explosion was reported at 2:14 a.m. at Wilshire Boulevard and Bixel Street, just west of Interstate 110.
The explosion in the Department of Water and Power vault was reported at 2:14 a.m. at Wilshire Boulevard just west of Interstate 110. DWP spokeswoman Gale Harris says the vault controls underground power lines to the building.
Glass doors and windows were blown out by the blast.
City fire spokesman Erik Scott says an urban search and rescue squad was called in to examine the building and no structural damage was found.
It's unclear if the explosion is related to the record heat wave. The DWP says electricity demand reached a peak 6,177 megawatts at 3:45 p.m. Monday, breaking the record 6,165 megawatts on July 24, 2006.
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