An accident caused by butane? Arson or extortion for non-payment of hush money?

Click here to view 327 E. Boyd Street address on Google Maps.
-NW

2 LA firefighters remain in critical condition, 3 released after DTLA explosion
A total of 12 firefighters were injured in the evening blaze and explosion in L.A.' 'Toy District.'
Ryan Carter and Josh Cain
Pasadena Star News
May 17, 2020

[snip]

...The Boyd fire itself wasn’t fully extinguished until Sunday morning, when arson investigators began piecing together how flames broke out at 6:26 p.m. at 327 E. Boyd St., in the vicinity of SmokeTokes, described as a maker of “butane honey oil,” also known as hash oil...

The fire scene and surrounding area on Sunday morning remained closed off, with numerous fire and police personnel conducting a widening arson investigation that could lead to criminal charges. Scott said the investigation is “one of the most significant in years” for the department.

But authorities were reluctant to jump to any conclusions about the source. Fire investigations are unique, said LAFD Capt. Patrick Leonard, of the department’s Arson and Counterterrorism Section, in that they start without the presumption that a crime occurred.

“Our job is first and foremost to follow the facts to determine where the fire actually originated,” he said. “Once we determine that, we look for heat sources in that area that could lead to the source of the fire. We’re not going to know those things until we go piece by piece.”

Officials indicated the investigation could last for weeks.

Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes Division were also poking through the rubble of the building. Officials would only say that the detectives were there to help with what was expected to be a lengthy, complicated investigation.

The MCD detectives “bring extensive expertise in large scale investigative responses,” Scott said.

But police also said Sunday that the fire was being treated as a crime scene. They said they did not know if a crime occurred, but they were probing the incident to see if any criminal charges could be brought.

Scott also said there was so much damage inside that it was impossible to determine if there were any warning placards about fire hazards, smoke detectors or fire suppression equipment.

He confirmed LAFD is looking into a 2016 fire at previous SmokeTokes location, separated by an alley from the business’ new location.