Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words

Smoke Toke Shop Burns in Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles

Several fire companies on scene, but staying out of the building due to explosive cylinders

Update Tuesday morning September 13: More than 160 firefighters eventually knocked down the blaze about two hours later, but several trucks remained at the scene Tuesday morning making sure no flare ups occurred. The 100-year-old two-story warehouse appears to be a total loss including all the businesses within it.

Monday evening, 9/12: The Los Angeles Fire Department on its Twitter account is reporting a major fire burning at a smoking materials shop in little Tokyo near downtown Los Angeles.

The Smoke Toke fire is visible from the Hilton Hotel across the 110 freeway in downtown Los Angeles. No reports of injuries but the building appears to be fully involved at this time.

The fire late Monday evening fully involved a two-story warehouse type building in little Tokyo, just north and east of downtown Los Angeles. It began from uncertain causes around 8 PM.

KTTV news at 10 PM reported Several explosions, and massive flames bursting out of a stubborn and active fire. Entry into the two-story commercial building at Third Street and San Pedro, was not safe for fireman so they conducted a defensive fire fight.

LAFD told KTTV Fox 11 news, that pressurized gas cylinders exploded inside the store. Many small businesses are inside the building. They are all smoking accessory shops.

Because of the explosive materials, LAFD quickly went into a defensive mode just trying to keep the building from spreading to other buildings. 130 firefighters responded. The building was unoccupied when the fire began.

 

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