toy factory blast kills 4; 24 injured in downtown l.a. explosion.
Signature: Rick Orlov and David R.
Authorities say Baker Daily staff reported Wednesday\'s explosion at a factory in the city center that killed three people and injured 25.
The explosion of Imperial Toys
The factory on Seventh Street and Santa Fe Avenue blew up the windows and tore them off the block-
A long building in the Southeast Industrial Zone of the city center.
On Wednesday night, neither the deceased nor the injured were named.
At least 6 of the injured workers needed hospital treatment, 2 of whom were seriously injured.
More than 100 firefighters and carers rushed to the scene to treat the wounded. investigators from the arson and demolition teams searched the building. The 3:20 p. m.
The explosion on the second floor of the building shocked the staff and triggered a sprinkler system.
Authorities said about 150 people were working at the time and most immediately fled the building.
\"Everything happened so suddenly,\" said an unidentified employee . \".
\"We were just working and then all of a sudden everything fell off the ceiling;
Everything is down.
I looked out of the fire passage. . .
One side of the building is open.
The exact cause of the explosion was not confirmed late Wednesday.
The authorities also don\'t know if a psychiatrist has a fire.
If the explosion causes a fire, the packing machine will cause an explosion.
However, Los Angeles Fire Chief Bill Bamattre said employees were capping with toy guns when the explosion occurred.
He did not know whether the gunpowder in these hats caused an explosion.
\"We\'re not sure which one is the first, and we really don\'t know what we\'re dealing with until we\'re sure,\" Bamattre said . \".
\"We also don\'t know if these hats have played any role in the explosion.
The reporter was unable to reach the company\'s top officials, one of whom was a resident of Encino.
Fire and Police immediately launched an arson and bomb investigation into the explosion.
The state Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also sent investigators.
Los Angeles Mayor Richard riodan arrived at the factory, saying after talking to investigators that there was no indication that the company had done something wrong in causing the explosion.
\"Now, in any case, we have no evidence of any violation of any law or rule,\" he said . \".
There were 17 fire companies and more than 25 ambulances at the scene, and Cardinal Roger Mahoney met with the workers to help them through the storm.
Neither the fire department nor California.
OSHA has any record of previous issues with the company, one of the largest toy manufacturers in the city.
Empire toys was founded in 1969 to produce childhood standards such as marbles, skipping ropes and water guns, and cosmetics for young girls.
Fred Scott, founder and president of the company, is no stranger to adversity.
He was born in Germany and survived the Treblinka concentration camp. at the end of World War II, the Nazis slaughtered prisoners in the concentration camp and he escaped.
He immigrated to America in 1947.
Los Angeles MP Richard altorre said the company\'s boss, through active expansion of the plant over the past few years, seems to be working very closely with city officials.
\"I have only seen the master once or twice and he has never asked for any special help --
He said he only asked for cooperation from city agencies.
But Alatorre also questioned whether the operation was legal and whether employees knew the type of product they were using.
\"I was told by some workers that they didn\'t know what they were doing,\" he said . \".
The problem that we must always pay attention to is the safety of workers. \'\' CAPTION(S)
: 3 photos, map photos (1 --color)
Firefighters and medical staff are treating victims of Wednesday\'s explosion at Imperial Toys.
Factory located in downtown Los Angeles. (2 --color)
Employees of Imperial Toy Company comforted each other after the factory exploded.
Associated Press (3)
Firefighters view the explosion-
Broken sunroof at the Imperial Toy Factory in downtown Los Angeles.
AP Map: Empire toys