A man was badly burned in an illegal Butane Hash Oil lab explosion in Lebanon.
The Linn County Sheriff's Office responded to the report of a loud explosion on River Drive Tuesday night. It was reported to be a drug lab explosion and there was someone badly injured. When deputies arrived they found evidence of an explosion and fire damage to a conex style box trailer. Lebanon Fire Department and members of the Albany Fire Department Hazardous Materials team responded.
26 year old, Nicholas Helms, a Lebanon resident, had been transported to the Lebanon Community Hospital with over 50% of his body burned. Helms was later transported to OHSU.
Members of the Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement (LINE) taskforce were called to the scene and began an investigation. Evidence of an illegal Butane Hash Oil lab was seized along with multiple pounds of marijuana, US currency and firearms.
The Oregon State Police Explosives Unit was called to the scene for blasting caps found at the location.
Anyone with information about the explosion is encouraged to contact LINE at 541-791-0102.
The mission of LINE is to reduce illegal drug trafficking in the Linn County area by identifying, disrupting, or dismantling drug trafficking and money laundering organizations through cooperative efforts, enforcement, and intelligence sharing by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.