An explosion precipitated by illegal hash oil production rocked a Portland neighborhood on Wednesday, leading to a fire and subsequent arrest. According to OregonLive, Portland Fire & Rescue officials have indicted the fire was most likely caused by the volatile process of extracting cannabinoid from marijuana, a hazardous activity resulting in the arrest of 32-year-old Christopher Ellett.
Ellett is now facing charges, including four counts of reckless endangerment and one count of arson. The authorities were to swiftly arrest him following a thorough investigation into the incident that rapidly brought to light the dangers lurking behind the illegal creation of the cannabis concentrate known as BHO or 'dabs'. In the wake of the explosion, not only was the residence on Northeast 42nd Avenue and Northeast Holman Street affected but it imperiled others, including two other adults and two juveniles who were inside the home at the time, as reported by KOIN.
While the production of hash oil itself is a legal venture in Oregon under regulated circumstances, the use of butane to extract THC from cannabis plants remains a dangerous and illegal method due to the substance's highly flammable nature. Portland Fire and Rescue has noted on a release acquired by KOIN, that an explosion due to flammable vapors from butane was the most probable cause of the fire.
The ramifications of Ellett's actions were potentially devastating and have unexpectedly driven home the perils of amateur chemical extraction. Investigators were able to determine the cause of the blast after police obtained a search warrant for Ellett's home, where they found additional evidence of the illicit operation. According to KPTV, PF&R investigations pinned down the explosion to have been most likely caused by the butane used in the illegal hash oil production. Ellett's case now serves as a cautionary tale for the dangers that these unregulated practices pose to public safety.
