UPDATED: Drug Operation Caused Apartment Explosion & Fire Friday Morning In Walnut Creek

UPDATED: Friday, Oct. 31, 9:40 p.m.

An explosion and fire at an apartment complex in Walnut Creek this morning that left two men in critical condition resulted from a marijuana and hash oil drug extraction manufacturing process, police said.

The explosion occurred at about 10 a.m. today at a complex in the 1500 block of Sunnyvale Avenue, about two blocks west of Interstate Highway 680, that consists of several six-unit townhouse structures.

The two men who were critically injured live at the unit that was destroyed and were transported via helicopter to the University of California at Davis Burn Center, where they are being treated at the burn unit, Walnut Creek police said.

The explosion also caused minor injuries for a resident who lives near the location where the explosion occurred. Police said the explosion left the six-unit complex where the incident occurred uninhabitable.

The adjacent complex suffered major structural damage as well.

The Red Cross has set up a shelter nearby and is tending to those who have been displaced.

Police and fire investigators are continuing to investigate the incident.

Walnut Creek police said anyone with information about the explosion and fire should call them at (925) 943-5844 or Detective Jeha at (925) 256-3518.

--Bay City News

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UPDATED: Friday, Oct. 31, 5:33 p.m.

Walnut Creek Police Department and Contra Costa Fire investigators reported this afternoon that the cause of today’s apartment explosion was a butane hash oil drug lab.

The two injured individuals from the fire on the 1500 block of Sunnyvale Avenue in Walnut Creek are listed in critical condition, according to the public information officer of the Contra Costa fire department.

The fire was reported at about 10 a.m. and the explosion blew the roof off the apartment complex.

Fire officials said six ambulances and one medical helicopter initially responded to the scene.

Area residents from as far away as Pleasant Hill and Lamorinda reported hearing the morning boom, followed by the sight of a circling helicopter.

Patch will update when more details are made available.

UPDATED: Friday, Oct. 31, 11:05 a.m.

Contra Costa County firefighters are responding to a two-alarm explosion and structure fire at an apartment complex in a residential area of Walnut Creek this morning.

Police said the fire broke out in the 1500 block of Sunnyvale Avenue. The fire was reported at about 10 a.m. Fire officials said the explosion and fire has caused multiple injuries.

The explosion blew the roof off the apartment complex.

Fire officials said six ambulances and one medical helicopter initially responded to the scene.

One person was transported to the hospital by ground, one was transported by helicopter and one person is still unaccounted for.

The buildings around the explosion are being searched for victims.

Firefighters haven’t been able to search the unit where the explosion occurred due to the structural instability of the building.

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Friday, Oct. 31, 10:41 a.m.

Contra Costa County firefighters are responding to an explosion and structure fire with several injuries in a residential area of Walnut Creek this morning.

The fire broke out in the 1500 block of Sunnyvale Avenue, police said.

Fire officials said six ambulances and a medical helicopter have responded to the scene.

The cause of the explosion wasn’t immediately available.

[Previous: Walnut Creek PD Alert: Possible Fire on Sunnyvale Avenue.]

--Bay City News

--Images via Contra Costa Fire PIO on Twitter