Photo courtesy of the Long Beach Fire Department.
Three firefighters who were shocked by electricity while battling a fourplex garage fire in the city’s Los Cerritos neighborhood are in good condition after being transported to a local hospital, according to fire officials.
The Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) responded to a dispatch call at about 1:35AM on Friday, October 7 regarding a fire at the 5300 block of Cedar Avenue.
“Responding firefighters found the garages of the housing unit heavily involved with the fire, which spread to the rear unit of the complex,” said LBFD spokesman Jake Heflin.
The unit was vacant, but sustained smoke damage and fire damage to its attic, he said.
Officials believe the electric shocks the firefighters encountered were linked to collapsed overhead power lines, according to Heflin.
Firefighters were transported to a hospital for further evaluation after feeling ill from the shock, he said.
A Southern California Edison crew arrived at the scene to secure the power lines.
The cause and origin of the fire remains under investigation.
City News Service contributed to this report.
1:36 AM – 5300 block of Cedar Ave. 1 vacant unit & 4 garages on fire. 3 FF transported to hospital. Minor injuries. Fire under investigation pic.twitter.com/HSEVuZRoBr
— Long Beach Fire (@lbfd) October 7, 2016