Los Angeles Fire Department chief Ralph Terrazas
told reporters that eleven firefighters were injured, three of them seriously,
in downtown Los Angeles, when a fire in a commercial smoke shop caused a
massive explosion and spread to surrounding buildings on Saturday night.
told reporters that eleven firefighters were injured, three of them seriously,
in downtown Los Angeles, when a fire in a commercial smoke shop caused a
massive explosion and spread to surrounding buildings on Saturday night.
Terrazas said that the crews had reached the building to battle what was
originally believed to be a mild blaze until they realized that the smoke level
was rising and decided to evacuate.
originally believed to be a mild blaze until they realized that the smoke level
was rising and decided to evacuate.
He said the explosion happened as the firefighters
entered the building from the roof and the ground floor.
entered the building from the roof and the ground floor.
A witness account is that our firefighters came
down the aerial ladder from the roof with their turnout coats on fire, Terrazas
said.
down the aerial ladder from the roof with their turnout coats on fire, Terrazas
said.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said three
firefighters had critical but not life-threatening injuries and another had
serious injuries, while the remainder had varying degrees of burns.
firefighters had critical but not life-threatening injuries and another had
serious injuries, while the remainder had varying degrees of burns.
Garcetti said the good news is that everybody will
make it as there are no symptoms of blast injuries but there’s potential evidence
of chemical inhalation.
make it as there are no symptoms of blast injuries but there’s potential evidence
of chemical inhalation.
Terrazas said firefighters saw butane canisters
inside the building and outside on the street but it was unclear what caused
the blaze.
inside the building and outside on the street but it was unclear what caused
the blaze.
Everything is under investigation by our arson
team, all I can say at this point is that the cause is under investigation, he
said.
team, all I can say at this point is that the cause is under investigation, he
said.
Some 230 responders battled the blaze as it spread
to other buildings in the area before it was extinguished around two hours
after it began.
to other buildings in the area before it was extinguished around two hours
after it began.
Fire officials said the building where the
explosion happened housed a business named Smoke Totes Wholesale Supply that
distributed smoke and paraphernalia and supplied other businesses that manufactured
butane honey oil, a highly flammable substance used to inhale marijuana.
explosion happened housed a business named Smoke Totes Wholesale Supply that
distributed smoke and paraphernalia and supplied other businesses that manufactured
butane honey oil, a highly flammable substance used to inhale marijuana.
Several storefronts in the area were blackened by the explosion, while
one fire engine had a scorched roof and was littered in rubble. Thick smoke
from the lightning was evident from miles out.
one fire engine had a scorched roof and was littered in rubble. Thick smoke
from the lightning was evident from miles out.
