Local News in Brief : 6 Injured in Blast at Graphics Firm

Six people were hurt late Wednesday afternoon when a cylinder of gaseous ammonia apparently exploded at a West Los Angeles graphics firm, forcing the evacuation of the 2000 block of Pontius Avenue. Two of the injured had facial burns but none of the six were seriously hurt, according to city firefighters.

Five employees and a policeman were hurt when fumes sprayed from a 4-foot cylinder after it either exploded or lost a valve at Westlake Graphics. Neighboring businesses were evacuated and the block was roped off about an hour while a hazardous materials team from the city Fire Department cleaned up the scene.