Cook Critically Burned in Restaurant Blast
A 17-year-old boy was critically burned Thursday in an explosion at a Granada Hills restaurant where the youth worked as a cook, authorities said.
The explosion, possibly caused by a grease or gas fire, sent the teen-ager stumbling out of The Taj, an Indian fast-food restaurant in the 10600 block of Balboa Boulevard, said Sgt. Kirk Wilder of the Los Angeles Police Department.
The boy, whose identity was not released, collapsed inside a nearby 7-Eleven and was rushed to Holy Cross Medical Center in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns over 70% of his body, city Fire Department spokesman Bob Collis said.
The fire, which is under investigation, caused $135,000 damage to the business.
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
