Man seriously electrocuted in Glendale

An unidentified man was seriously electrocuted this morning after coming into contact with a 40,000-volt electrical transmission line, officials said.

The man, who was not a city employee, contacted the high voltage line at about 8:20 a.m. this morning while performing maintenance on a building in the 6100 block of San Fernando Road, fire officials said.

Some of his clothes and parts of his body caught fire, but witnesses were able to quickly extinguish the flames, Glendale Fire Capt. Vincent Rifino said.

The man was rushed to a trauma center, where he remained in critical but stable condition, Rifino said.

A co-worker who was in the mechanical lift with the man escaped any serious injury, officials said.

The big rig carrying the lift had apparently began conducting electricity after a small water pipe broke underneath the truck, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

The rig was disabled, forcing fire crews to make the rescue after utility officials shut off power to the line, he said.

Officials with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health and Glendale Water & Power are investigating the incident.