Updated LAX Traffic Advisory

Updated LAX Traffic Advisory: Traffic in Westchester continues to be blocked due to the explosion/fire incident on the 8800 block of Sepulveda Blvd. Traffic in both north and south directions of Sepulveda Blvd. between the intersections of Manchester Blvd. and Century Blvd. continue to be blocked due to firefighting and investigation-related resources (equipment and vehicles). Motorists should avoid Lincoln Blvd. adjacent to the airport as traffic on northbound Lincoln Blvd. is blocked at the intersection of Lincoln and Sepulveda Blvd. while traffic on southbound Lincoln Blvd. and westbound Westchester Parkway is very congested with significant delays. These traffic blocks and congestion conditions are expected to last until further notice. Airport officials continue to recommend passengers and motorists coming to LAX to: From north of LAX (Alternative 1): take I-405 to westbound Century Blvd. From north of LAX (Alternative 2): take I-405 to Manchester Blvd. to Aviation Blvd. to Century Blvd. From north of LAX to Pershing Drive on the westside of the airport (Alternative 3): Avoid Lincoln Blvd. and take Culver Blvd. or Manchester Blvd. to Pershing Drive From east of LAX: I-105 eastbound to northbound Sepulveda Blvd. through the Sepulveda Tunnel remains open for airport traffic ONLY and for motorists headed eastbound Century Blvd. From south of LAX: northbound Sepulveda Blvd. remains open through the Sepulveda Tunnel for airport traffic ONLY and for motorists headed eastbound Century Blvd. FYI ONLY -- FOLLOWING IS CITY NEWS SERVICE COVERAGE TO-DATE ON THE INCIDENT. LAWA/LAX has no comment on the incident itself. Covers Blown, 3rd Ld Eds: UPDATES with one firefighter dead. Map page 702, G-3. LOS ANGELES (CNS) - One firefighter was killed and another was critically injured today when an explosion rocked an intersection near LAX and heavily damaged a credit union building. A civilian suffered minor injuries, but was treated and released at the scene. Firefighters were sent to the 8800 block of South Sepulveda Boulevard shortly after 2 p.m. on reports of smoke in the area and manhole covers being blown off, Ron Myers of the fire department said. ``Firefighters initially encountered smoke coming from a number of manhole covers and two of those appear to have exploded -- the manhole covers were off,'' said Los Angeles Fire Department Deputy Chief Mario Rueda. ``Firefighters were investigating that call and subsequently were called to a structure fire at 8800 Sepulveda, which is at the corner of La Tijera and Sepulveda. ``Firefighters observed dark smoke coming from the rear of 8800 Sepulveda, which is a credit union building, and were making entry into the rear of that structure when a subsequent explosion occurred, injuring the two firefighters,'' he said. One of the firefighters was taken to UCLA Medical Center, and the other was taken to Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center in Marina del Rey, where he died. The name of the firefighter was not immediately released, pending notification of relatives. ``It's been confirmed that a firefighter died in the line of duty today with this incident here,'' Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced at the scene at about 5 p.m. ``In addition to that, as you may know, another firefighter is at UCLA Medical Center with a fracture to his ankle, a compound fracture to his arm, and I believe he is currently in surgery.'' Rueda said the cause of the explosion was still unknown. ``It appears to be related to what was occurring with the electrical vaults underneath the street, but as I stated, the cause of the explosion is unknown at this point.'' Joe Ramallo of the Department of Water and Power said early reports from the scene indicated that none of the agency's underground vaults had exploded, and that a gas leak may have been responsible. But Rueda said there was ``no indication, no evidence, that natural gas was involved.'' ``It appeared to be at least electrical in nature because of the substations that are underneath Sepulveda, but we don't have a cause of the explosion at this point,'' Rueda said. ``I don't have a theory on how it occurred. I can tell you smoke is combustible and can be explosive when it reaches the right temperature, and with a source of ignition, smoke can be explosive.'' Rueda said the two firefighters were entering an above-ground vault connected to the credit union building when the explosion occurred. Sepulveda and La Tijera boulevards were closed to make way for rescue helicopters. The streets remained closed as officials continued to investigate the blast. The blast caused heavy damage to the Water and Power Community Credit Union, which primarily serves DWP employees and staff but is an independent financial institution, Ramallo said. He said there were no power outages in the area as a result of the blast. CNS-03-26-2008 17:12 Nancy Suey Castles Public Relations Director Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Los Angeles World Airports One World Way -- Room 109 Los Angeles, CA 90045 Phone: (310) 646-5260 Fax: (310) 646-1894 e-mail: ncastles@lawa.org