Girl Hurt in Blast Linked to Bug Fogger

An explosion fueled by several cans of bug-killing fogger injured a 2-year-old girl and damaged three apartments Monday, fire officials said.

The family, living in a complex in the 900 block of South Loara Street, set off six cans of the insecticide at 8:30 p.m. and left the apartment for an hour, said Robyn Butler, a spokeswoman for the Anaheim Fire Department.

One can, she said, would have been sufficient for the two-bedroom unit, and the family should have stayed out of the apartment at least four hours.

“They obviously were plagued with cockroaches for some time, and they were trying to get the upper hand,” Butler said.

About 11:30 p.m., gas seeped into an uncovered electrical outlet in the kitchen and exploded--just as the 2-year-old was walking by, Butler said.

The blast was so powerful that it blew down walls. “There was major damage,” Butler said. “The windows were completely blown out. Both apartments next door were damaged as well.”

The girl suffered cuts on her forehead and possibly a concussion. She was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange. Hospital officials declined to comment on her condition.

At least three other people were in the apartment at the time of the blast. None were injured. Fifteen residents in surrounding units were temporarily displaced by the blast.