Drug Lab Explosion Hits South Coast Apartment Complex

An sxplosion rocked a South Coast apartment complex Friday afternoon. Ventura firefighters say it was triggered by a drugmaking operation
(Ventura Fire Department Photo)

An explosion rocked a South Coast apartment complex, and firefighters say it was the result of an illegal and dangerous drug lab.

The blast hit a second story unit on the 300 block of Hurst Street in Ventura.

Ventura firefighters were able to quickly knock down the blaze. They say four people were in the apartment when the explosion occurred at around 2 p.m. Friday, but no one was seriously injured.

Fire investigators say the blast was triggered by the ignition of butane as someone was trying to make what’s known as honey oil from marijuana. Ventura Police are investigating the blast, with charges expected to be filed.

None of the neighboring apartments suffered significant damage.

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Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.