POLICE SAY A FIRE AND EXPLOSION THAT OCCURRED AT A SANTA CRUZ APARTMENT COMPLEX YESTERDAY, WAS STARTED BY BUTANE, BELIEVED TO BE USED IN HASH OIL PRODUCTION. THREE MEN IN THEIR 20S SUFFERED LIFE THREATENING BURNS, AND ARE CURRENTLY IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT A BAY AREA TRAUMA CENTER. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE THREE INDIVIDUALS WERE USING THE CHEMICAL SOLVENT TO EXTRACT THE OIL FROM MARIJUANA AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION. AUTHORITIES SAY THE WALL NEXT TO THE WATER HEATER WAS BLOWN OUT IN THE BLAST, WITH FIRE FLASHING BACK INTO A STORAGE ROOM, WHERE THE VICTIMS WERE.
