Explosion/fire at hash oil business

[Perd Hapley]

Eleven firefighters were injured, and several buildings were set on fire, due to an explosion in downtown Los Angeles. There is, according to some news sources, confusion about the nature of the explosion. Other sources report the site of the explosion was a "hash oil factory."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/17/los-angeles-explosion-10-firefighters-injured-in-major-emergency

That's a new one on me, so I'm not sure how it differs from CBD oil, or if it's legal in L.A. (And is it "essential"?)* In any case, exploding hash oil is apparently a major hazard to the hippy/pothead lifestyle.

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2015/07/18/hash-oil-use-rises-safety-questions/30315841/

Gotta wonder, even if it's legal to make the stuff under state/municipal law, is it legal in that neighborhood, as opposed to a less crowded area like an industrial park?



* For that matter, are essential oils essential?

[HankB]

I think even the media is confused about what exploded - I'd swear I heard the media talking head say it was "butane honey oil" () that blew up.

[MechAg94]

I saw mention of that earlier but all I heard was "oil explosion".  I figured there was no way there was an oil refinery near downtown LA. 

[Perd Hapley]

I think even the media is confused about what exploded - I'd swear I heard the media talking head say it was "butane honey oil" () that blew up.

That is, so it would seem, a thing. A method of extracting the oil from the plant, using butane, I guess. Might explain the splodyness.

[Fly320s]

Just saw a short drone video of the fire.  That looks nasty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6ttvaLD254

[charby]

That is, so it would seem, a thing. A method of extracting the oil from the plant, using butane, I guess. Might explain the splodyness.

Yep, butane to strip oils for vaping or putting in edibles. I visited an operation in Oregon where they used liquid CO2 to extract there.

[HankB]

Saw an updated story - yep, it was butane honey oil used for vaping.

The talking head on TV said that officials were looking into this closely as the business apparently wasn't licensed to use that method of processing on these premesis; sounds like SOMEbody is going to be in deep trouble.

[MechAg94]

Saw an updated story - yep, it was butane honey oil used for vaping.

The talking head on TV said that officials were looking into this closely as the business apparently wasn't licensed to use that method of processing on these premesis; sounds like SOMEbody is going to be in deep trouble.

That does sound like some hardcore chemical processing. 

I was trying to think of all the laws and regulations they might have been violating:  zoning, environmental air permitting, problem some OSHA regulations, state and local fire codes, etc, etc.