Tuesday evening, a drug lab exploded at the Colonia Del Sol apartment complex at Barstow and Blackstone in Fresno.
Police say a couple of men were trying to make Butane Honey Oil, which is highly concentrated marijuana produced through a very dangerous, flammable extraction process.
The explosion inside their apartment caused a slider door to shatter and a window to blow out. It sent chards of glass flying about 30 feet away into the parking lot.
“It injured everyone in the apartment. Two individuals were taken to C.R.M.C. after sustaining burns to the leg,” said Lt. Jose Garza of the Fresno Police Dept.
This man was also in the apartment. He was able to escape with minor injuries.
“He's going to be taken into custody for some outstanding warrants,” said Lt. Garza.
“It's very disappointing. We thought we lived in a decent area. We walk around here at night and we're not scared,” said Ariana Cardona, a resident.
Investigators found evidence that Butane Honey Oil was being made. The super concentrated, sticky substance is extracted from marijuana then people smoke it for a more potent high.
“I was scared because I didn't know what was going on because I saw the smoke coming out,” said Doug Langenfeld, a resident.
Doug Langenfeld was in his upstairs unit with his young son when the blast occurred. He has lived at this complex six years. He says it used to be a peaceful place.
“It’s just very unsavory characters moving in here,” said Langenfeld.
Now it's time for him to move.
“I work too hard to provide to have this happen. Because you never know, the whole apartment complex could have burned down and a lot of people could have lost possessions and livelihoods,” said Langenfeld.
Since the Honey Oil process is so dangerous, it's prosecuted on the same criminal level as running a meth lab.