Two Los Angeles firefighters are back at work more than two months after they were among a dozen firefighters injured in a massive blaze and explosion at a downtown smoke shop supply warehouse.
Before this week, only one other firefighter injured during the May 16 call had returned to active duty, KCBS-TV reports. One firefighter is still recovering in a hospital burn unit, although he's expected to eventually be back on the job in the future.
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Crews had been battling the commercial blaze when a huge explosion hit, injuring 12 firefighters. Overall, more than 230 firefighters responded to the scene.
The blast damaged several storefronts and was so intense that it melted fire helmets and charred an apparatus. Following the explosion, those firefighters still inside the building had to pass through a fireball in order to escape.
At least two of the injured firefighters were placed on ventilators to make sure there was no lung damage after inhaling “superheated” air and highly toxic gases. One of the most seriously injured firefighters—Capt. Victor Aguirre— lost the use of his hands because of the damage caused by third-degree burns
