Duty of Care

On Wednesday morning, October 7, 2026, four Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters were injured at a house in the 2600 block of North Lakewood Avenue in Silver Lake, near the Silver Lake Reservoir, according to the LAFD as reported by CBS Los Angeles, ABC7, and MyNewsLA.

The call came in at 10:48 a.m. CBS Los Angeles reported that an HVAC company had reported a Freon leak and that a small explosion happened after crews went to the home’s basement. LAFD Battalion Chief Nick Pellegrini told CBS it was “a small explosion, but major enough to cause some injuries to four of our members,” with injuries ranging from a concussion-type injury to inhalation and some minor burns. ABC7 reported that arriving crews found flames showing and reports of a possible gas leak, attacked the fire from inside, and quickly knocked it down.

The LAFD said three patients had been taken to hospitals and a fourth was expected to be transported. Early reports said a nail had pierced a Freon line, but the LAFD said the cause of the fire and the injuries had not been confirmed. Arson investigators were sent to the scene, which the battalion chief said is standard when members are injured.

For fire crews: treat any reported refrigerant or gas leak in a confined space like a basement as a possible ignition and atmosphere hazard. Meter before entry, control ignition sources and utilities, limit the number of members inside, and keep full PPE and SCBA on until the space is cleared.

• CBS Los Angeles
• ABC7 Los Angeles
• MyNewsLA