3 injured in Wonder area explosion
Nov. 18—Narcotics detectives are investigating a predawn explosion at a suspected marijuana extract lab that was felt throughout the rural Josephine County community of Wonder and left three people injured — two of them critically.
The explosion in the 11000 block of Redwood Highway was first reported at 3:09 a.m. Thursday and is believed to have been caused during the manufacture of highly flammable marijuana extract known as butane honey oil, according to news advisories from Rural Metro Fire — Josephine County and the multiagency Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team, also known as JMET.
Firefighters found the house "completely displaced and on fire," according to Rural Metro Fire — Josephine County. Firefighters and medics focused first on treating the three people with various burn and trauma injuries caused by the blast.
Two adults were critically injured, and a juvenile had minor injuries from the explosion, according to JMET.
American Medical Response paramedics rushed the three patients to Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass. Firefighters fully extinguished the fire after the patients were transported.
Multiple fire agencies that responded to the scene include Grants Pass Fire Rescue, Illinois Valley Fire District, Jackson County Fire District No. 1 and Applegate Valley Fire District.
The JMET advisory provides few further details about the fire's cause, but it states the law enforcement agency is working with Oregon State Police and the State Fire Marshal's Office in their investigation.
