Five firefighters were taken to the hospital Saturday morning after they noticed an unusual burning sensation on their faces while responding to a fire at an unpermitted cannabis operation in downtown Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said there were concerns the sensation may have been caused by burning chemicals inside the two-story brick building south of the Arts District.
“These were experienced firefighters, and they sensed something out of the ordinary,” he said.
None of the five reported any other complaints, nor did they have difficulty breathing, Humphrey said.
Callers who reported the fire along an industrial strip said it appeared one or more people may have been inside the burning building, Humphrey said.
Two cadaver dogs were sent to the scene, but there was no evidence of anyone being inside.
A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said there were concerns firefighters had a reaction to burning chemicals inside the building south of the Arts District.
(Andrew Gompert/Los Angeles Times)
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Humphrey said, adding that it's not clear whether cannabis was grown on the building or processed inside.
Last month, a body was recovered from an explosive fire at what police described as a “secret” cannabis lab in South Los Angeles. In 2022, at least four people, including two firefighters, were injured in an explosion at a makeshift laboratory in Orange County used to process cannabis oil, which is extracted from marijuana plants using butane.
