Eleven Los Angeles city firefighters were injured in an explosion, one seriously, while battling a fire at a homeless encampment on Monday, authorities said.
The fire was first reported around 1:30 p.m. in a grouping of trees in the Sepulveda Basin area of L.A.’s San Fernando Valley.
“As firefighters made access to the flames, there was an explosion causing an injury to a firefighter,” the L.A. Fire Department said in a brief statement.
The firefighter was first moved to an open softball field and then transported by helicopter to Northridge Hospital.
Fire officials told KTLA that the injured firefighter suffered serious injuries but had been upgraded to stable condition.
“[The explosion] was significant enough that it caused some facial, head and ear trauma to our member,” LAFD Capt. Erik Scott told KTLA. “It was deemed in the best and quickest interest of that member to be airlifted via a LAFD helicopter to this hospital for more definitive care.”
Another 10 firefighters were also evaluated for minor injuries.
An official with the Los Angeles Police Department told KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade that there were multiple suspicious devices found in the encampment where the fire erupted, which prevented fire crews from going back into the area to douse hotspots that continued to reignite flames.
Instead, LAFD used its firefighting helicopter to drop water on problematic spots within the area.
“We now have involved our bomb squad, our major crimes division, which is the investigative arm of this investigation,” LAPD Deputy Chief Ruby Flores told KTLA.
LAFD Capt. Freddy Escobar, who is also president of the union representing L.A. firefighters, expressed frustration over a fire he said was the result of the homeless.
“It was caused by the homeless and we nearly lost a firefighter over this,” he said. “I’m asking the city of Los Angeles, where is the outrage for what’s happening in the city because what we’re doing today is not working.”
He went on to say that the homeless encampments are a danger to residents of the city, as well as a danger to every firefighter in the city.
The initial blaze was quickly contained after burning roughly a quarter of an acre. It’s cause remains under investigation.
All eleven firefighters, including the one seriously injured, have since been released from the hospital, with officials adding that the firefighter seriously hurt will need continued care.
