Los Angeles Officials Investigating Cause Of Firefighters Death At Explosion

Los Angeles, CA (AHN) - An explosion that killed one firefighter and seriously injured a second firefighter on Wednesday is under investigation by officials in Los Angeles, authorities said Thursday.

There were a series of three explosions at a credit union building. The last explosion blew apart an electrical vault and officials say LAFD firefighter Brent A Loverien, 35, was fatally injured in that blast, either by the force of the explosion itself or he was possibly hit forcefully with debris, according to reports.

Loverien died at the hospital. He was a 10-year veteran of the LAPD.

The explosions took place northeast of Los Angeles International Airport. The first two blasts blew manhole covers off, the third left a gaping hole in an office building.

Firefighters were in the middle of opening a metal door on an above-ground electrical panel to check it for smoke when the third explosion occurred, sending metal, stucco and insulation flying through the air, officials said.

The cause of the explosions is unknown, officials say.