Sheriff’s Office investigates hash oil lab fire south of Santa Rosa

A hash oil lab in southwest Santa Rosa burst into flames Wednesday night, damaging the makeshift production complex hidden in several shipping containers off Highway 101, authorities said.

Firefighters discovered more than 500 pounds of marijuana trimmings and hundreds of butane canisters at the property in the 100 block of Todd Road, said Rincon Valley fire prevention Officer Cyndi Foreman. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has opened a criminal investigation, Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

The fire broke out around 6 p.m. Wednesday, when witnesses reported hearing explosions behind Berry’s Market on Moorland Avenue, Foreman said.

The blaze, in view of motorists driving on Highway 101, engulfed two shipping containers on the property. Firefighters extinguished the flames by 9:30 p.m., then saw smoke coming out of a building under construction in an adjacent lot in the 3300 block of Moorland Avenue, Foreman said.

They quickly doused the fire in the unfinished building, which sustained heavy smoke damage but minimal harm from fire, she said.

Fire investigators found three butane honey oil labs on the Todd Road property, split between two illegal outbuildings and two shipping containers, Foreman said. The two shipping containers suffered significant fire damage; a third shipping container, used for storage, sustained significant smoke damage, she said.

Two RVs were also on the lot, but no occupants were on site at the time firefighters arrived and there were no reported injuries, Foreman said.

Well over 500 pounds of marijuana trimmings stored in plastic trash bags were found around the property as well as hundreds of 5-gallon butane canisters, she said.

The Sheriff’s Office secured a search warrant Wednesday night and locked down the property for its criminal investigation, Foreman said.

Hazardous material crews from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control were on site Thursday to dismantle the butane honey oil labs and clean up the fire damage, Foreman said.

“It’s a fairly sophisticated setup,” she said. “We don’t stumble upon these large-scale operations often.”

You can reach Staff Writer Nick Rahaim at 707-521-5203 or nick.rahaim@pressdemocrat.com.