A 42-year-old man allegedly using butane gas to manufacture concentrated cannabis oil suffered burn injuries in an explosion in the garage of El Monte home, police said Thursday.
Officers and county fire department personnel responded about 4:05 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a structure fire in the 11000 block of Elliott Avenue and upon arrival found a rear converted garage engulfed in flames, according to El Monte Police Department Public Information Officer Priscilla Segura.
“The resident, later identified as Jose Fernandez, was found to have been burned in the fire,” Segura said.
While crews put out the fire, Fernandez was taken to a hospital for treatment, Segura said.
“L.A. County Fire Arson investigators determined that the fire was caused by an explosion related to Fernandez’s operation of a clandestine butane `honey oil’ lab,” Segura said.
The location was secured, a search warrant obtained and a specialized team removed hazardous materials and evidence, Segura said.
“At this time, Fernandez has not been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing,” Segura said.