Hash oil lab suspected in Cazadero garage fire

Sheriff's officials say a man who was badly burned in a weekend fire is under investigation for illegal hash oil production.|
JULIE JOHNSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Sonoma County sheriff’s detectives were investigating whether hash oil production equipment caused the fire that badly burned a Cazadero man last weekend.

The fire broke out about 6:30 p.m. Saturday in a garage on a property on the 5400 block of Cazadero Highway, about five miles from Highway 116.

Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman said the burned man was outside and lying on the ground when firefighters arrived. He had second- and third-degree burns over 75 percent of his body, Baxman said.

Sheriff Sgt. Spencer Crum said narcotics detectives suspect the 31-year-old man had been making hash oil at the property.

The man was flown to UC Davis Medical Center. His condition and name were not available Tuesday.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.

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