Firefighters, Civilian Injured Putting Out Explosive Car Fire In LA

LOS ANGELES, CA — Four firefighters and a non-firefighter suffered burn injuries Saturday after a burning car in the Shadow Hills area of Los Angeles exploded.

The car fire was reported at 2:29 p.m. Saturday at 9750 N. Wheatland Ave., just north of Sunland Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Firefighters working to put out the blaze said a large fireball suddenly erupted from the burning vehicle, according to LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey. There was 'excessive personal storage' inside the gas-powered car.

Three firefighters were taken by ambulance to a regional burn center to have their injuries assessed, Humphrey said. They were not considered life-threatening. A fourth firefighter was taken to the burn center for a baseline medical evaluation.

A civilian man, associated with the burned coupe, suffered minor burns to an arm and leg and singed facial hair, and was taken by ambulance to another hospital in fair condition, Humphrey said.

The cause of the fire and subsequent fireball were under investigation, Humphrey said.

— City News Service