A chip of shatter hash made using "BHO" butane hash oil extraction. (Joe Amon, Denver Post file)

Hash oil blamed for explosion in Denver home

DENVER—Authorities say three people trying to make marijuana hash oil caused an explosion that damaged their Denver duplex and left one of them injured.

Denver Fire officials say the people could face arson charges stemming from Sunday’s fire, which remains under investigation. Department spokesman Mark Watson says investigators found chemicals and paraphernalia that led them to believe the residents were using butane fuel to make hash oil, a high potency extract of marijuana, when the explosion occurred.

One person suffered minor burns and was treated on scene.

There have been several explosions caused by people trying to make hash oil in Colorado and around the country. Denver’s fire department is starting to track such marijuana-related fires since Jan. 1, when recreational sales of the drug became legal in Colorado.

This story was first published on DenverPost.com