Butane Honey Oil Possible Cause of Astoria Explosion Injuring Three

Making Butane Honey Oil can be very dangerous, even for professionals.

Butane Honey Oil produced by Higher Level Concentrates. Photo: Higher Level's facebook page

(ASTORIA, Ore.) - An explosion and fire in Astoria sent three people to the hospital, two with burn injuries, but luckily no one was fatally injured. Wednesday evening, about 6:29, the Astoria Fire Department and Astoria Police were dispatched to an explosion in a building near Portway and Industry streets in the west end of Astoria.

The commercial building houses two separate businesses. The explosion reportedly occurred in the business, Higher Level Concentrates, located in the walkout basement area accessed from Industry Street. A cannabis dispensary named Sweet Relief, housed in the same building was also damaged.

Three people were working in the basement at the time of the explosion and, though injured, were able to escape.

40-year old, William “Chris” West of Astoria, one of the business owners, and 34-year old Jacob Alan Magley, also of Astoria were transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital with burn injuries and were later taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. Both are reported to be in stable condition. A second business owner, 43-year old Jason Oei of Astoria, was at the scene when the blast occurred and was reportedly uninjured.

The investigation of the fire at Higher Level Concentrates, 401 Industry St., was conducted today by the Clatsop County Fire Investigation Team, Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office and Oregon State Police Arson Unit investigators as is standard for any explosion that resulted in injury to people.

Fire investigators said today, "At this point there is much follow up that still needs to be conducted. The possible cause of the fire was the manufacture of butane honey oil."

Higher Level Concentrates has previously submitted a complete producer application to the Oregon Health Authority. An application had also been submitted to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

Astoria Deputy Police Chief Eric Halverson said “Based on the initial investigation it appears Higher Level Concentrates has made applications through both the Oregon Health Authority and OLCC. There are many questions about what was or was not allowed through those processes."

"Information from the investigation once complete, will likely be submitted to the Clatsop County District Attorney’s Office for their review.”

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Bluselephant October 21, 2016 2:04 am (Pacific time)

Is butane Honey oil so necessary That we put lives in danger?

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