Blast tears through apartment floor, prompts evacuation

LOS ANGELES (AP) - An explosion possibly caused by a powerful firecracker, tore through one floor of an apartment building Sunday, injuring the man believed responsible for the blast, and prompting an evacuation.

One resident, 15-year-old Luz Gutierrez, said she saw the man walking bloody and shirtless through the hallway after the blast. The teen described him as a nice man who had served in the Vietnam War and kept a bullet collection.

The unidentified victim had cuts and burns to his hands and face and was treated by paramedics. He was detained by police. Residents were forced to flee and authorities evacuated several blocks in the Koreatown neighborhood.

Firefighters responded to a fire at 7:54 a.m. and discovered an explosion that blew a 12-inch diameter hole in the third floor of the building.

Police said the victim apparently had been trying to manipulate a device described as an M-80 or ''cherry bomb'' firecracker, said Officer Trevion Stokes.

The man's intentions were unclear. He was questioned but not immediately arrested. Stokes said possessing an illegal explosive device is a crime.

Residents were awakened by the sounds of the blast and breaking glass. Officers at the scene began searching for more explosives when a resident said the injured man may have dumped more explosives in the area.

''A neighbor told them there were possible additional explosives in the area,'' Stokes said. The bomb squad also examined a car outside the building authorities believed might contain explosives, but found nothing.