Two people were burned Friday morning, May 2, when a suspected honey oil lab exploded in a garage at a house in Moreno Valley, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.
Both were hospitalized with moderate to major injuries, said Karina Espinoza, a Cal Fire / Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman. One was detained for questioning, said Lt. Dierdre Vickers, a sheriff’s spokeswoman.
“Deputies are investigating a possible butane honey oil lab explosion,” Vickers said.
Butane is used to extract THC, the primary psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. The substance, which goes by various names including honey oil, is consumed by smoking, eating, or vaping. If the extraction is performed inside a room that is not properly ventilated, the butane can ignite catastrophically.
The explosion and a fire were reported at 10:27 a.m. in the 13600 block of Pattilyn Drive. Firefighters arrived to find smoke billowing out of the garage.
The flames were knocked down in about 20 minutes.
A hazardous-materials team was standing by, Espinoza said.