No injuries after vault explodes in Los Angeles


CSA Z462 Arc Flash Training - Electrical Safety Compliance

Our customized live online or in‑person group training can be delivered to your staff at your location.

  • Live Online
  • 6 hours Instructor-led
  • Group Training Available
Regular Price:
$249
Coupon Price:
$199
Reserve Your Seat Today
An explosion in an underground electrical vault has caused evacuations at four downtown Los Angeles buildings. No injuries have been reported.

Fire Department spokeswoman d'Lisa Davies says the vault blew the morning of February 18, causing heavy smoke, but no fire, to erupt from a manhole.

Davies says the buildings were evacuated for more than two hours so inspectors could determine if there might be fires inside their electrical systems. No fires were found.

The Department of Water and Power says the explosion caused 83 power outages in the area.

The cause of the blast is under investigation.

A similar vault explosion in the city caused an electrical fire that killed a firefighter and injured another in March.

Related News

Starved of electricity, Lebanon picks Dubai's ENOC to swap Iraqi fuel

Lebanon-ENOC Fuel Swap secures Iraqi high sulphur fuel oil, Grade B fuel oil, and gasoil…
View more

Idaho gets vast majority of electricity from renewables, almost half from hydropower

Idaho Renewable Energy 2018 saw over 80% in-state utility-scale power from hydropower, wind, solar, biomass,…
View more

PG&E restoring power after intentional shut-offs affect 20,500 customers

PG&E power restoration continues across Butte and Yuba counties after PSPS shut-offs from high winds…
View more

Severe heat: 5 electricity blackout risks facing the entire U.S., not just Texas

Texas power grid highlights ERCOT reliability strains from extreme heat, climate change, and low wind,…
View more

Idaho Power Settlement Could Close Coal Plant, Raise Rates

Idaho Power Valmy Settlement outlines early closure of the North Valmy coal-fired plant in Nevada,…
View more

Ontario Providing Electricity Relief to Families, Small Businesses and Farms During COVID-19

Ontario TOU Electricity Rate Relief offers 24/7 fixed off-peak pricing at 10.1¢/kWh, suspending time-of-use tiers…
View more

Sign Up for Electricity Forum’s Newsletter

Stay informed with our FREE Newsletter — get the latest news, breakthrough technologies, and expert insights, delivered straight to your inbox.

Electricity Today T&D Magazine Subscribe for FREE

Stay informed with the latest T&D policies and technologies.
  • Timely insights from industry experts
  • Practical solutions T&D engineers
  • Free access to every issue

Download the 2026 Electrical Training Catalog

Explore 50+ live, expert-led electrical training courses –

  • Interactive
  • Flexible
  • CEU-cerified