LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles city attorney has filed dozens of criminal charges alleging fire-code and safety violations against the owner of a building that exploded in the city’s downtown and injured 12 firefighters, officials said Friday.
The owner of the building faces up to 68 years in jail and thousands of dollars in fines if convicted, City Attorney Mike Feuer said. The city attorney can only file misdemeanor charges, not felonies.
A thunderous explosion rocked the building, which housed a vape and marijuana-accessories wholesaler, during the massive fire in May. Firefighters on the roof scrambled down ladders through the blaze, with their protective coats aflame.
“Everybody off the roof!” a firefighter shouted in scanner traffic captured on Broadcastify.com.
“Mayday mayday mayday! All companies out of the building. Mayday mayday mayday!” another shouted.
