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#Westside Pavilion evacuated btwn Westwood Bl & Westside Plz after report underground "explosion" @knx1070 pic.twitter.com/lF6PyOqXzw
— Ed Mertz (@edmertz_news) November 8, 2015
The Westside Pavilion was closed on Sunday following reports of a nearby explosion, according to ABC-7. Utility crews said that smoke was seen coming out of an underground vault next to the Landmark Theater on Sunday morning, which is located inside the mall on the 10800 block of W. Pico Boulevard. NBC L.A. reports that smoke was emitting from a manhole cover near Pico and Westwood boulevards. At around 9 a.m., city firefighters and Department of Water and Power officials showed up at the scene.
The theater lost power and was evacuated, and the mall is closed until further notice because of residual smoke, as the scene remains under investigation. No injuries have been reported. KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports that the DWP is investigating the smoke's source as a possible underground insulation fire.
While we don't know the cause of the smoke quite yet, one thing is for sure: it stinks:
Smoke smell so bad at Westside Pavilion you can smell it all the way out on the sidewalk, says photog. Part of mall to remain closed.
— HunterL (@HunterL) November 8, 2015