Retro Friday: The Fairfax District Methane Explosion

It’s why we don’t have a subway to the sea — or even west of Western — these days. In 1985, a methane gas explosion injured many shoppers and severely damaged the Ross Dress for Less store at Fairfax and 3rd (read about it here). Soon after, Rep. Henry Waxman spearheaded a successful effort to stop plans to extend the Metro subway west under Wilshire.

Here’s news coverage from KCBS/Channel 2 in the wake of the incident; a young Ann Curry is among the reporters seen in this heavily edited clip.

By the way, Waxman finally reversed course, and his ban on the use of federal dollars for a subway was finally repealed at the end of last year. OK, so where’s our subway to the sea now?