Three men were hospitalized at UC San Diego’s Burn Center in Hillcrest with third-degree burns on Sunday after a series of explosions in their home-cannabis oil extraction lab caused a fire that burned them badly, and severely damaged the house.
At around 6:15 p.m. on Sunday, a fire broke out at a house on Sunny Meadow Street in Mira Mesa from explosions that were so powerful that they blew the garage door off, reports KSWB.
Responding fire crews were able to contain the blaze at the two-story home quickly, but the flames damaged a vehicle in the driveway and the exterior of a neighboring house.
According to initial reports on Sunday, an extensive, multi-room marijuana cultivation operation was the likely cause of the fire, but upon further investigation, a butane hash oil processing lab was determined to be the source.
There have been no arrests made, but the men involved in the case, who have not been identified publicly, are likely to be facing criminal charges related to illegal drug manufacturing and public endangerment.
