In an unfortunate incident in Wilmington, nine Los Angeles firefighters sustained injuries when a compressed natural gas tank on a burning truck exploded on Thursday morning. The powerful blast occurred around 7 a.m. in the 1100 block of North Alameda Street, near a truck yard adjacent to a residential neighborhood.

Responding to a call about a truck fire, firefighters arrived at the location only to face a disastrous turn of events. As they were working to extinguish the flames, one of the truck's two compressed natural gas tanks exploded, sending a massive fireball into the sky. The explosion was described as significant, with flames shooting as high as the nearby telephone poles.

At least two firefighters were rushed to the hospital and were reported to be in critical condition, while others were being assessed for injuries at the scene. The injured firefighters were part of a team battling the fire that broke out on the vehicle, which utilized compressed natural gas (CNG) as its fuel source, instead of traditional diesel or gasoline.

Capt. Erik Scott from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) highlighted the unique aspect of the vehicle, noting that it ran on CNG. The truck had two 100-gallon compressed natural gas tanks, one of which exploded during the firefighting operation. Firefighters continued to remain at the scene in order to safely release the gas from the second tank that remained intact.

The explosion left debris scattered across the street, as shown in video footage from NewsChopper4, which also captured the presence of several fire engines and the burnt wreckage of the truck near a rail crossing. Security camera footage showed a dramatic fireball rising into the sky, drawing attention from the South Bay community.

Fortunately, the truck driver escaped the incident without any injuries. It was reported that the driver had called 911 upon noticing something amiss with the vehicle. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a primarily methane-based fuel that is stored under high pressure. CNG-powered vehicles operate similar to gasoline-powered vehicles, with fuel supplied through a cylinder that is regulated and ignited through a spark plug.

The investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing, as authorities examine the circumstances leading up to the incident. As the affected firefighters receive medical treatment, the incident serves as a reminder of the risks and challenges that emergency responders face while ensuring public safety.

UPDATE: 10th July 2021

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has confirmed that nine firefighters were injured in a compressed natural gas tank explosion. Two firefighters remain in critical condition, while others are being evaluated for injuries. The incident occurred during a response to a truck fire on North Alameda Street. The truck driver escaped unharmed, and an investigation into the explosion is currently underway.