Federal investigators have joined the investigation of an explosion at a downtown Los Angeles hash oil manufacturer that injured 12 firefighters.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Monday that its National Response Team was activated and its experts will work with the Los Angeles Fire Department in processing the scene.
The Fire Department had responded to a fire report at the nondescript commercial building late Saturday afternoon when there was a thunderous explosion that sent firefighters scrambling through searing flames to get out of the building.
A fire captain described the business where the explosion occurred as a maker of “butane honey oil.”
Butane is an odorless gas that is used to extract the chemical THC from cannabis to create a highly potent oil.
The LAFD says the fire burned so hot, it melted some of firefighter helmets and charred a fire engine.
As of Sunday, eight firefighters remained hospitalized - two of them in critical condition, but all are expected to survive.
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