A Los Angeles firefighter who nearly lost an ear in an explosion while fighting a brush fire has been released from the hospital and reunited with his family, authorities said Tuesday.
The firefighter’s ear was “almost completely severed,” and he was airlifted to Northridge Hospital, but doctors were able to reattach it, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Eric Scott said. The firefighter required extensive follow-up care but was released to friends and family, Scott said.
Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Melissa Kelley said crews responded to a brush fire Monday afternoon at a homeless encampment near Burbank and Woodley avenues. After the explosion, 10 other firefighters near the explosion suffered headaches, tinnitus and possible shrapnel injuries. Most were evaluated at hospital and released without serious injuries, but one was seriously injured.
Los Angeles police officer Kevin Terzes said the explosion was caused by a propane tank.
Kelly said the fire was extinguished in about 30 minutes, with about 80 firefighters involved.
The fire department’s arson unit was at the scene Tuesday clearing debris, looking at burn patterns and interviewing witnesses to determine what started the fire, Scott said. The investigation is ongoing. Crews are also working closely with the Los Angeles Police Department and its bomb squad due to “the discovery of a number of suspicious objects.”
No civilians were injured in the fire or explosion.
“These are some of the inherent dangers of this chosen profession as conditions continue to change,” Scott said. “We’re used to explosions like building or garage fires or munitions exploding, but brush fires don’t usually happen.”
