Underground explosion closes avenue

By Dexter Gauntlett
Daily Bruin Staff

A short circuit caused an underground electrical transformer to
explode behind Copeland’s Sports on Westwood Avenue last
week, leading to power outages throughout the village and prompting
the fire department to shut down several blocks of Westwood
Avenue.

At approximately 3 p.m. Jan. 2, manager of Copeland’s
Sports Calvin Gillary noticed the power outage, evacuated the store
and proceeded to investigate downstairs.

“I saw smoke coming from behind the store, and it turns
out there was an explosion underground that even blew the manhole
cover above it onto the street,” Gillary said.

Smoke from underneath the alley on Weyburn Avenue near Broxton
Avenue appeared through the basement of Copeland’s Sports and
set off the fire alarm, triggering the fire department to
respond.

A local division of the Los Angeles Fire Department was not
available to comment after phone calls Monday and Tuesday.

Copeland’s Sports was not the only business affected by
the power outage. Jerry’s Famous Deli, Baskin Robbins, Scrubs
Unlimited and Wherehouse were all without power until the next day.
But neighboring businesses Noodle Planet, Rite Aid, the GAP and
Coffee Bean were unaffected.

The store incurred no damage, Gillary said, but he and other
merchants were forced to close their business for the day.

Police spent part of the day directing and rerouting
traffic.

“The fire department blocked off Weyburn and would only
let people turn certain directions. It really messed up traffic for
a while,” Gillary said.

Baskin Robbins manager Robbie Schwartz said he only suffered a
loss of business and didn’t lose any ice cream during the
power outage.

“It seemed to be luck of the draw for people who were
affected,” he said.

Also last week, a suspicious package prompted the Los Angeles
Police Department to shut down parts of Westwood Boulevard as the
Bomb Squad investigated.

A suspicious letter was also reported by Passport-Photo on
Westwood Boulevard last week.

Both reports were found to be harmless and in no way connected
to the transformer explosion, said Sgt. Craig Lally, the watch
commander during the investigation.