Underground vault explosion in Hollywood Hills area injures 5

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - Five people were injured after an underground vault belonging to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power exploded in the Hollywood Hills area Thursday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

It happened just before 2 p.m. in the 3700 block of Barham Boulevard, near the Universal Studios backlot.

Officials said there was no active fire hazard and the power to the vault was off at the time of the explosion.

The five people injured were all DWP employees. They were all taken to the hospital for treatment of burns and smoke inhalation. Officials said all five were alert and conscious and none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.

The utility reported that 17 commercial power customers in the area lost power following the blast.

DWP crews were investigating the cause of the explosion and conducting repairs to the damaged vault.