Fortuna Police Dept. Press Release:

On Monday November 11, 2013 at approximately 2200 hours, the Fortuna Police Department Communications Center received numerous 9-1-1 calls from subjects reporting an explosion at an apartment complex located at 137 12th Street, Fortuna. One caller reported that a “hash lab” had exploded.

A Sergeant with the Fortuna Police Department arrived on scene and located two male subjects who had sustained severe burns to their upper torso’s, arms and heads. Responders from the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department and City Ambulance arrived within minutes and assisted the injured males. The two injured subjects were identified as Kenneth Nevers of Fortuna and Joseph White of Oakland, both were transported to Redwood Memorial Hospital and later airlifted out of the area for treatment.

Officers were able to locate several subjects who claimed to be within the apartment at the time of the explosion, one of which was a three month old infant. The additional subjects were uninjured.

While officers were checking the apartment, they observed items consistent with a butane process hash extraction lab. They also located the area of the explosion/fire.

This is an open investigation and further details will be released as they become available.