3 Hurt In Explosion At Denver Marijuana Grow House
DENVER (AP/CBS4) - Authorities say three people are hurt after an explosion at a marijuana growing operation in Denver.
Investigators say the explosion happened Wednesday in the 1200 block of South Lipan Street while the people were using butane to extract the intoxicating chemical THC from the marijuana plant.
Denver Fire spokesman Mark Watson says the injured people were likely trying to make hash oil. The process is dangerous and has caused several similar explosions in Colorado and around the country.
Watson says it does not appear the marijuana growing operation was permitted, and the extraction process is illegal. Thirty-six plants were found in the building.
Two men and a woman were taken to hospitals with second-degree burns.
Witness Cindy Gilmore, who works in the area, told CBS4 she heard as many as 10 explosions and say people running from the building.
Another witness heard an explosion and saw a person on fire running toward an ambulance. The victim was said to be "very badly burned."
Watson says the building, in an industrial area, wasn't damaged. Police haven't made any arrests.
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