Drug-related explosions cause fire

Two men sustained burns and might face criminal charges after several explosions inside an Evergreen mobile home caused a fire to break out at about 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said the men, whose names and ages have not been released, were attempting to convert marijuana into hashish, an illegal and more potent form of the drug.

The two men were transported by Evergreen Fire and Rescue from the Flathead Drive home to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, where they remained Thursday afternoon.

Curry said the burn victims both are medical marijuana card holders, but they will “almost certainly” face criminal charges.

“Being a medical marijuana card holder doesn’t mean you get to manufacture dangerous and illegal drugs,” Curry said.

Evergreen firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire on the road just east of Kalispell city limits and were met by several people fleeing the home, Curry said.

“There was something of a mass exodus when the fire department arrived,” Curry said.

Evergreen Fire Chief Craig Williams said the explosions caused a fire in two rooms in the mobile home. Firefighters were able to contain the fire within about 20 minutes and the structure was saved, Williams said.

“It did take some extensive smoke damage but the fire was contained to a bedroom and bathroom,” Williams said.

Curry said Sheriff’s Office personnel were requested at the scene after firefighters reported smelling “a strange chemical order” emanating from the home.

Curry said a group of people at the home were attempting to convert marijuana to hashish through a process that involved butane and a fire. 

Hashish is a cannabinoid product composed of compressed resin glands collected from marijuana. Curry said the marijuana used in the operation apparently was grown on site.

The Northwest Drug Task Force searched the residence Wednesday morning and additional evidence was collected, Curry said.

The Task Force and Evergreen Fire and Rescue still are investigating the incident.

Reporter Eric Schwartz may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at eschwartz@dailyinterlake.com.