Explosion In North Hollywood Blows Roof Off Pickup [Video]

An explosion in North Hollywood earlier today frightened residents and even blew the roof off a pickup truck, but thankfully no one was killed or injured.

The explosion rocked North Hollywood at 12:30 AM local time from the truck’s cab. The vehicle was parked in the back of a home on the 11300 block of Miranda Street, and Sgt. Mike Kammert tells the Los Angeles Times what first responders discovered when they arrived on scene:

“Police and firefighters arrived about the same time and found the truck with its roof blown open and at least one propane tank inside the truck. Kammert said the LAPD bomb squad was at the scene to determine what exploded. Officials were focusing on the propane tanks as the likely source.”

Describing the North Hollywood blast as a “pretty good boom,” Kammert said investigators were painstakingly securing the scene to ensure no risk remained.

He said during the investigation:

“It’ll probably be another hour or so. The bomb squad doesn’t move fast, which is probably a good thing.”

Some residents were advised to “shelter in place” as the bomb squad investigated the North Hollywood explosion today, and about 30 chose to comply with the advisory.

One resident tells NBC Los Angeles that that the late-night blast “shook everything,” and another, Laura Weir, was in her room when the explosion occurred. She recalls:

“I heard a big loud noise and the dog started barking… The next thing I know, I see the helicopters, I see the fire department.”

A Nissan Titan pickup with a propane tank in the cab may have been the culprit, and investigators looked at the vehicle as part of the overall investigation of the blast.

LAPD Lt. Todd Hankel explained that the Titan was not the only thing destroyed in the North Hollywood explosion, and he explained to press that precautions were taken in the absence of a clear precipitate:

“[The blast] caused extensive damage to the vehicle and damage to the surrounding buildings… We were unable to determine the source of the explosion, so we evacuated the area.”

KTLA said that the Titan seen in the North Hollywood explosion pics was for sale at the time of the massive blast, and the site explains:

“One or more propane tanks were stored inside the cab of the truck, a law-enforcement source told KTLA, adding that a leak may have ignited the blast… Preliminary reports indicated that the vehicle may have been for sale and was shown to a prospective buyer on Monday, when a valve on a propane tank may have been unintentionally opened.”

Police have not ruled out a criminal cause for the explosion in North Hollywood, but have not determined whether the blast was intentional or not.