Seal Beach : Electrician Burned in Rockwell Plant Blast

A Rockwell International electrician was badly burned at the company’s Seal Beach plant Friday night when an electrical panel exploded.

County fire dispatcher Michele Palmer said the accident occurred at 9:05 p.m. as several electricians worked on an electrical vault inside the defense plant. The explosion caused a small fire but did not cause significant property damage, she said.

But one electrician, whom Rockwell officials refused to identify, received third-degree burns and was taken by paramedics to Los Alamitos Medical Center.

Palmer said she did not know what caused the explosion. Asked about the incident Friday night, a security guard at the plant first denied there had been an accident, saying, “I don’t know what you’re calling about. I have no plans on answering any of your questions.”

A Rockwell spokeswoman did not return telephone calls Saturday.