L.A. firefighter nearly loses ear in explosion battling brush fire near homeless camp

A Los Angeles firefighter who nearly lost one of his ears in an explosion while fighting a brush fire has been released from the hospital and is back with his family, authorities said Tuesday.

The firefighter had been airlifted to Northridge Hospital after his ear was “nearly completely severed” but a doctor was able to reattach it, said Erik Scott, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department. The firefighter will require extensive follow-up care but was released to friends and family, Scott said.

On Monday afternoon, crews responded to a brush fire in a homeless encampment near Burbank Boulevard and Woodley Avenue, LAFD spokesperson Melissa Kelley said. An explosion occurred and 10 other firefighters close to the blast suffered from headaches, ringing to ears and potentially shrapnel wounds. Most were evaluated at the hospital and released without serious injuries but one was severely injured.

The explosion was caused by a propane tank, said Los Angeles Police Officer Kevin Terzes.

The flames were quelled in about 30 minutes and about 80 firefighters responded to the fire, Kelley said.

California

L.A. firefighter severely injured in explosion while battling blaze near homeless camp

A firefighter suffered significant head trauma in an explosion of unknown origin while battling a brush fire near a homeless encampment at the Sepulveda Basin.

June 24, 2024

The fire department’s arson section was at the scene combing through debris Tuesday, looking at burn patterns and interviewing witnesses to determine what sparked the blaze, Scott said. The investigation is ongoing. Crews are also working closely with the Los Angeles Police Department and their bomb squad due to “finding several suspicious objects.”

No civilians were injured in the fire or blast.

“These are some of the inherent dangers of this chosen profession as things continue to change,” Scott said. “We’re used to explosions in structure or garage fires or ammunition going off but not typically at a brush fire.”