11 Firefighters Injured In LA Explosion, Hundreds Battle Blaze

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Downtown commercial fire triggered an explosion that injured 11 Los Angeles firefighters and sent flames flying to nearby buildings. Hundreds of firefighters were called to help battle the fire, which spread from a butane honey oil wholesale supplier to neighboring smoke shops and wholesalers.

Two firefighters were in critical condition on ventilators early Sunday, officials said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department declared a major emergency and issued a mayday, calling for help from nearby departments Saturday evening. Flames could be seen from blocks away shooting into the sky, and a plume of smoke could be seen for miles. The block contains a series of smoke shops and dispensaries. A firetruck across the street from the explosion was completely blackened, according to Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott.

"There was a significant explosion that caused a mayday report," Scott explained. "This was upgraded to a major emergency category."

Some of the 11 firefighters suffered "obvious damage and burns" in the explosion and were taken to a hospital for treatment, he said. Dr. Marc Eckstein, medical director for LAFD and a physician at the center, said all 11 firefighters would remain at the hospital overnight for observation and all were expected to survive their injuries.

Eckstein said they all arrived at the hospital awake and alert, but two firefighters were put on ventilators due to smoke inhalation and four were sent to the intensive care unit for burns. Most of the burns, he said, were on their upper extremities. "All are stable at this time," the doctor said.

"This has been a very difficult situation," Scott said, noting that he would provide the community with updates as soon as possible.

Multiple ambulances and fire companies were called to the scene where the fire appears to have begun at Smoke Tokes Warehouse Distributor, "a supplier for those who make butane honey oil," according to fire officials. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange, "Firefighters have moved to a defensive posture for fire attack, and a medical branch has been created for treating and transporting injured firefighters."

The fire started just before 6:30 p.m. inside a single-story commercial building at 327 East Boyd St. Crews arrived on scene to battle the blaze when the fire triggered an explosion, hurting 11 firefighters. Authorities did not immediately release information about the condition of the officers. Multiple ambulances and fire companies were called to the scene. A medical treatment area was established at the scene, and 12 empty gurneys were positioned just east of the fire.

The fire was knocked out at 8:08 p.m.

The cause of the fire "is of paramount concern," Scott said. It was under investigation.

Jeralyn Cleveland was at a party on the roof of the 13-story apartment three blocks away when the explosion rocked her building, she told the Los Angeles Times.

“Everyone in my building thought there was a bomb that went off,” Cleveland told the Times. “It was like a mushroom.”

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City News Service contributed to this report.