1 injured in explosion at propane facility in Huntington Beach

A person was seriously injured Wednesday morning after an explosion occurred inside a storage container at a propane facility in Huntington Beach, officials said.

The person suffered injuries “consistent with a propane explosion” and was taken to Orange County Global Medical Center, said Battalion Chief Mike McClanahan of the Huntington Beach Fire Department. Media reports indicated a woman was injured, but McClanahan said he couldn’t confirm the reports.

The person was found under debris and was pulled out by two Huntington Beach police officers before being taken to the hospital, the Fire Department said.

The explosion was reported about 5:30 a.m. at Huntington Beach Propane in the 18900 block of Gothard Street. The blast occurred inside a conex box, similar to a large shipping container, McClanahan said.

“At this time, there is no potential for another explosion,” he said.

The explosion was heard about a half-mile away and deformed the storage container. The force from the blast knocked down a block wall behind the container, fire Capt. Bob Culhane said.

Culhane said two watch people were at the propane facility when the explosion occurred.

“One of the people was up and doing something [in the container], and we’re still trying to figure that out,” he said.

The other person was in a nearby RV and was not injured, Culhane said.

Officials said the blast did not appear to be directly related to the propane operation.

Rocha writes for the Los Angeles Times.