Two men were hospitalized following a large house explosion in Valley Glen Sunday night, fire officials said.
Firefighters responded to reports of an explosion just before 9:30 p.m. in the 12700 block of West Archwood Street, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department alert.
The explosion caused severe damage to the one-story, single-family home and has leveled the garage, officials said.
A 59-year-old man suffered significant burn injuries and was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, LAFD spokesman Erik Scott said.
The other patient seriously injured was a 46-year-old man who got buried in the rubble left from the explosion, Scott said. Crews pulled the man from the debris and transported him to a hospital with no life-threatening injuries.
Officials said a total of seven people had been inside the house when the explosion occurred. Aside from the two men hospitalized, authorities said another adult man sustained injuries but declined to be taken to a hospital.
The remaining occupants included a 65-year-old woman and three children — all who were uninjured, officials said.
A woman from a neighboring home was also evaluated for injuries, LAFD said, but she declined further medical treatment.
While the cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, officials said firefighters smelled a strong gas odor when they first responded to the scene.
Around 11 p.m., firefighters said there was no fire hazard and that the gas leak had been secured.
