Man in critical condition with burn injuries from Pacoima explosion

LOS ANGELES - A man was seriously injured on Wednesday in an explosion near the electrical panel of a large one-story commercial building.

Firefighters were sent about 1 p.m. to the 12200 block of West Montague Street, according to Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Bystanders came to the unidentified man's aid, using fire extinguishers to douse the flames, Prange said. The patient was hospitalized in critical condition with severe burn injuries, he said.

No other injuries were reported.

The fire at the electrical panel was extinguished by 3 p.m., and Department of Water and Power crews arrived to de-energize the area and eliminate any electrical hazards.

The cause of the explosion was under investigation, Prange said.