Pubdate: Tue, 12 Sep 2006
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2006 The Register-Guard
Contact:  http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362
Author: Rebecca Nolan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors 
may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been 
convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or 
officials.

MEN HURT IN ALLEGED DRUG-RELATED FIRE

Two men allegedly using butane to extract hash oil from marijuana suffered 
severe burns Monday when the gas exploded and set their living room on fire.

[Name redacted], 27, and [Name redacted], 26, were flown to the Oregon Burn 
Center at Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center in Portland. Both men 
were in serious condition Monday night.

Neighbors heard an explosion and saw flames shoot about 10 feet into the 
air behind the house [Name redacted], owns at  [address redacted], in the 
Churchill neighborhood  south of West 18th Avenue in Eugene. [Name 
redacted] reportedly lives at the house as well.

Firefighters who entered the house to fight the blaze found a pile of 
marijuana on the floor of the basement living room and canisters of liquid 
butane.

The two men suffered severe burns to their arms and  legs, witnesses said. 
They stumbled from the house and lay on the front lawn while someone 
sprayed them with  water from a garden hose until paramedics arrived, 
neighbors said.

Fernando Garcia and another man were installing an appliance on the upper 
floor of the house when they heard the explosion at about 12:15 p.m.

"We looked inside through the sliding door and saw a lot of smoke," Garcia 
said. "We heard guys screaming downstairs. I called 911."

A 24-year-old woman, [Name redacted], and her 5-year-old daughter were 
visiting the house at the  time. They escaped unharmed, Eugene police 
spokeswoman Kerry Delf said.

Police believe the men were using liquid butane as a solvent to extract the 
psychoactive substance in marijuana to make hash oil, a highly concentrated 
form of cannabis extract. The oil is added to marijuana or wiped on a joint 
to intensify the drug's effects. It also can be smoked alone in a water 
pipe or spread on cigarette papers.

Investigators believe the chemical fumes in the air ignited during the 
manufacturing process and started the fire that injured the two men.

One of the residents holds a medical marijuana card,  Delf said. But 
Oregon's medical marijuana statute does not allow the manufacture of hash oil.

The Lane County District Attorney's Office will decide  whether to file 
criminal charges against the three adults, Delf said.

Of the three, [Name redacted] is the only one with a criminal  history in 
Oregon. She was convicted in 2002 of felony  identity theft, court records 
showed.

According to county land records, [Name redacted] bought 
the  three-bedroom, 1 1/2 -bathroom house in June for  $259,000.

Neighbor Don Stoll said [Name redacted] had been remodeling the  house and 
was almost done.

Stoll was mowing his lawn Monday when he heard the  commotion across the 
street.

"I saw a big ball of flame at the back of the house,"  he said. "It blew 
the front door open and fire was coming up the stairs."

Firefighters went door-to-door and evacuated neighbors who waited behind 
red and yellow police tape until they were allowed to return to their homes.

District Chief Mark Grover of the Eugene fire department said firefighters 
were able to knock the fire down quickly. The damage was largely confined 
to the living room, he said.

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MAP posted-by: Elaine