CA - 11 firefighters injured, multiple buildings damaged after explosion, Los Angeles, 16 May 2020

[dotr]

11 firefighters injured, multiple buildings damaged after explosion in downtown L.A.
''Eleven firefighters were injured and multiple buildings were set ablaze after an explosion in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

The blast was reported around 6:30 p.m. while firefighters were responding to a fire at a one-story structure at 327 E. Boyd St., just outside Little Tokyo, according to LAFD.

LAFD Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said the firefighters did what they usually do: Some went in through the front of the building, and the rest went up on the roof. But things didn’t seem right, he said.

The smoke pressure inside was escalating and it was getting hotter.

The officer in charge directed everybody to get out quickly, and as they were trying to leave, the explosion rang out, the fire chief said.

“Our firefighters came down the aerial ladder from the roof with their turnout coats on fire,” the chief said.''

 

[byo]

Update Structure Fire KNOCKDOWN 05/16/2020 INC#1073

FTA:
". . . The occupancy was doing business as Smoke Tokes Wholesale Distributor, reportedly a supplier for those who make butane honey oil. The cause is of great concern to us and is under active investigation. . ."

 

[dotr]

Sounds horribly painful, wishing the best for all affected by this fire.

Firefighters are trying to recover after an inferno that injured 11 crew members.
"A lot of our firefighters were traumatized," he said. "I spoke to them directly, and they're holding up. But when one of your own is injured ... you can imagine the amount of emotional stress."

Los Angeles fire: An explosion melted firefighters' helmets. 4 responders are in the ICU - CNN

''Los Angeles (CNN)An explosion in downtown Los Angeles forced firefighters to walk though "a fireball," setting their coats ablaze and sending four crew members to an intensive care unit.

Firefighters initially responded to a blaze near Little Tokyo and Skid Row on Saturday evening when "light to moderate" smoke was coming out of a building, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said.
"The building was locked, so the crews had to use power saws to force their way in," LAFD spokesman Capt. Erik Scott said.''

''Some firefighters entered on the ground while others climbed up on a ladder to try to ventilate the roof, Scott said. But firefighters started to hear a rumbling, high-pitched sound, and a call was made for everyone to get out.
Suddenly, an explosion shot flames and smoke into the sky. Scott said crew members had to "go through a fireball" when they were coming down the ladder.
It was like going through "a 30-foot-tall blow torch," Scott said.''

"After, on the street you could see the firefighters' protective equipment had been pulled off -- coats burned, parts of helmets melted," he said. "The fire truck parked across the street had char on it. The seats in the truck began to burn."
''Witnesses said some of the firefighters' coats were on fire as they escaped, LAFD said.
At least 11 firefighters were injured, and all are expected to survive, officials said.''

 

[MajorHoople]

Update Structure Fire KNOCKDOWN 05/16/2020 INC#1073

FTA:
". . . The occupancy was doing business as Smoke Tokes Wholesale Distributor, reportedly a supplier for those who make butane honey oil. The cause is of great concern to us and is under active investigation. . ."

Hash oil - Wikipedia

"Hash oil, also known as honey oil or cannabis oil, is an oleoresin obtained by the extraction of cannabis or hashish. So called "butane honey oil" was available briefly in the 1970s."

 

[watergirl62]

Honey Oil, (also called BHO/Butane Hash Oil, Weed Oil, and Dab among other names) is a residue created when parts of the marijuana plant are soaked in a solvent, or blasted with butane gas. The result is a substance consumed by smoking, eating, or vaporizing. It produces an extremely potent high but the process of making it is extraordinarily dangerous. The solvents and gases used to produce Honey Oil are extremely flammable.

https://www.fireandburn.org/prevention/honey-oil-danger

 

[dotr]

rbbm.
Probe Into LA Explosion Begins as Firefighters Recover
''Terrazas said he watched video footage of the blaze _ in which several firefighters had to race down an aerial ladder through a fireball to safety _ and was “amazed” they survived an explosion like he’s never seen before in his 36-year career.

He credited it, in part, with their protective equipment that is rated higher than the national standard. City firefighters wear yellow gear that is meant to withstand flames for 19 seconds without developing second-degree burns. The National Fire Protection Association’s standard is 17.5 seconds.

Even in their heavier equipment, 11 firefighters suffered burns from minor to serious. Two initially had to be put on ventilators.

“Without a doubt, the burns would be more severe” if they had been wearing the 17.5-second gear, Terrazas said. “I think we’re on the road to recovery.”

 

[Filly]

Sending up extra special prayers to Saint Michael for these very brave firefighters and their families.

Bless them and great thanks to them for trying to keep us all safe as they put their own lives on the line. Really makes me want to cry over "dab"? Sheesh. I've heard even oldhead smokers say they won't attempt it. Not being a smoker I'm clueless to all this what is legal and what isn't. Meanwhile there are firefighters hurt.