By Adam Foxman
The Ventura County Star
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. — A suspected drug lab explosion in a Moorpark garage Thursday caused a fire and injured two men, one seriously, authorities said.
The men, Travis Seymour, 34, and Matthew Anderson, also 34, allegedly were working in the lab at a home in the 4200 block of North Cedarpine Lane early Thursday when the explosion occurred, sheriff’s Capt. Tim Hagel said.
Authorities believe the lab was producing honey oil, a concentrated THC product typically extracted from marijuana using butane.
The fire was reported about 1:24 a.m. Neighbor Omar Yosef was getting ready for bed when he heard a loud boom that sounded like a bomb or firecracker, he said.
‘I had no clue what it could be. I just knew it didn’t sound good,’ he said. Firefighters arrived to find the garage engulfed in flames, the roof partly collapsed and fire spreading to the eaves of the two-story home, said Battalion Chief JimArledge of theVentura County Fire Department.
Seymour, who lives in the home with his wifeand 3-year-old child, was found outside the home, as was Anderson, police said. Both had serious injuries and were taken to the hospital.
Firefighters searchedthe home for additional victims and found none. They later learned a pregnant woman, Lindsey Seymour, Travis Seymour’swife, andachild about 3 years old escaped on their own after waking up to a smoke alarm, Arledge said.
About 35 firefighters responded, and it took them about an hour to knock down the flames, officials said. Theblaze caused significant damage, mostly to the garage and an attic area, Hagel said.
Firefighters initially were told there might be a methamphetamine lab in the home, but authorities later said the lab apparently was making honey oil - a type of oil refined from cannabis and sometimes consumed in food products or smoked. Ventura County sheriff’s detectives are probing the incident alongwith fire investigators.
Investigators suspect the drug-making process caused an explosion that ignited the fire, officials said. Firefighters found butane canisters with their caps blown off, Arledge said.
Travis Seymour and A nderson were treated at Los RoblesHospital& Medical Center in Thousand Oaks for injuries that were serious but not life-threatening, officials said.
Neighbor Laura Zempel said she saw one of the victims with severe injuries on his hands.
“It looked like his skin was just melting off his hands,” said Zempel, who is a nurse.
Authorities were looking into possible criminal charges but had not made any arrests, sheriff’s Senior Deputy Bob Berger said.
Authorities said Child Protective Services was contacted and responded to check the well-being of the child.
Officers from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement combed the scene, some wearing white hazardous materials suits. The house was later red-tagged as uninhabitable, Berger said.
Capt. Derek West of the sheriff’s narcotics unit said he’s aware of at least three honey oil labs found in the region after fires this year.
“You don’t think something like that is going to happen, you know, on your street, let alone right almost in front of your house,” neighbor Yosef said.
Copyright 2011 Ventura County Star
All Rights Reserved