a worker at a facility off Coolidge Avenue did not store a can of butane properly and it exploded inside of a fridge, starting a fire
Warnings issued after medical marijuana facility fires
Nick Ciletti
August 23, 2018
COOLIDGE, AZ -
A new warning is being issued about fires at medical marijuana facilities, after two fires in our state were caused this summer and a chemical spill at another facility.
The most recent occurred on August 12 in Coolidge.
First responders say a worker at a facility off Coolidge Avenue did not store a can of butane properly and it exploded inside of a fridge, starting a fire.
Coolidge Fire Capt. Mark Dillon says the situation was especially dangerous for his crew because there were different types of gasses stored inside, something that's typical for marijuana processing, but not for dispensing the drug, which is the only thing this particular facility was zoned for.
"It most definitely could be deadly for first responders, whether it be law enforcement or fire," explained Chief Dillon.
Part of the reason is because of all the flammable materials inside - chemicals, lamps, electrical equipment, and even the plants themselves.
Chief Dillon says as medical marijuana grows in popularity, he believes we'll see more of these kinds of fires.
"I believe this is a trend we will probably see and this is something fire departments and law enforcement and city code officials will have to deal with because it's a crop and a business that's in Arizona to stay," said Dillon.
In June, there was another fire at a marijuana facility in Phoenix. And in Snowflake, there was an incident at another facility with chemicals being spilled.
The spill in Snowflake reportedly sent several people to the hospital at another marijuana facility.
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Chemical-fueled explosion causes fire at Coolidge marijuana facility
Associated Press
August 14, 2018
casa grande | southern arizona
COOLIDGE, AZ -
Authorities are investigating a fire that happened at Arizona Development Services, a marijuana cultivation facility.
The Casa Grande Dispatch reports the Coolidge Fire Department responded to the facility around 6:51 p.m. on Sunday.
Fire Chief Mark Dillon says the call initially came in as a fire caused by a lightning strike, but crews later discovered that the fire was actually coming from an internal source.
Fire officials say the materials led to an explosion within the building.
No one was inside the building at the time of the incident.
Crews managed to put out the fire shortly after 7:30 p.m., but that was not before it managed to do significant damage to the structure.
Dillon says initial damage estimates will likely be in the range of $100,000.
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Hash oil, produced with butane, cause of refrigerator explosion in South Hadley, officials say
Updated Oct 13, 2015; Posted Oct 12, 2015
By George Graham
ggraham@repub.com
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass.--
Hash oil, produced with butane, was the cause of a refrigerator explosion inside a home on Memorial Drive Saturday morning that buckled a wall and blew out windows, a spokeswoman for the state Fire Marshal's office said.
No injuries were reported in the explosion, however, a resident was arrested, spokeswoman Jennifer Mieth said Monday.
The explosion at 2081 Memorial Drive, reported about 8 a.m. woke up two residents, South Hadley Fire District 1 Capt. James Pula said on Saturday.
Mieth said somebody extracted the hash oil, also known as honey oil, from marijuana by using butane as a solvent.
The finished product, placed in the refrigerator, off-gased the extremely flammable butane inside that enclosed space. "And when the compressor kicked on it ignited those vapors," she said.
Such explosions are relatively rare in Massachusetts, Mieth said, adding she is aware of one that that occurred in Tewksbury several years ago.
Mieth had no information on the name of the person arrested or the charges that the person may face.
South Hadley police were not available to comment Monday afternoon.
The blast, along with damaging the home, destroyed the refrigerator, Pula said.