DRUG MAKING CAUSED HOME BLAST, POLICE SAY

Officials investigating a violent explosion that rocked a southwest
neighbourhood stumbled on a handgun, ammunition, stolen jewelry -- and an
illegal drug manufacturing operation.

The cache, which included dozens of rings, steroids, three kilograms of
marijuana bud and 40 plants, was recovered by police amid the charred
wreckage Tuesday, a day after emergency crews were called to the rented
bungalow at 2620 24th St. S.W. for a flash fire.

The explosion was caused by isopropyl alcohol vapours igniting on a kitchen
stovetop, but investigators say the addition of 400 to 500 rounds of
ammunition made for a potentially deadly situation.

"All of it just adds up to a very dangerous situation," said Det. Rod
McRae, of the city's joint forces arson squad, adding it's fortunate nobody
was hurt.

Police say a resident of the home was inside the kitchen, cooking marijuana
resin into weed oil, when the explosion occurred.

The man escaped uninjured. A Rottweiler also made it safely outside while
another dog living at the home, a chocolate Labrador, hid underneath the
house and emerged unharmed after the flames had been doused.

Weed oil production -- a process which involves cooking alcohol-soaked
leaves -- can be dangerous.

Sgt. Roger Morrison of the police drug unit said isopropyl alcohol is
highly flammable and can reach the boiling point on medium to low heat.

Weed oil is often smeared on cigarette paper and smoked. It sells on the
street for $10 to $15 per gram.

"We've had many homes that have been levelled by weed oil," said Morrison.
"It's lucky this one wasn't."

Morrison said in the last six months, four major Calgary house fires were
caused by weed oil explosions.

In 2003, nine fires were caused by marijuana-grow operations or the
production of weed oil.

A grow-operation was discovered in the basement of the three-bedroom home,
and police were busy Tuesday loading equipment, including lights, fans and
ballasts, onto trucks.

A 16-kilogram vat of isopropyl alcohol was seized, in addition to Winstrol
and Sustanol -- both anabolic steroids.

Metal bowls used for drug production were lying on the porch outside.

A 25-year-old resident of the home was interviewed by police Monday, though
no charges have been laid.

The explosion sent flames shooting into the night sky, as pyjama-clad
neighbours spilled out onto the street to see what had happened. Loud pops
from ammunition going off could be heard blocks away.

Next-door neighbour Sharon Smith says the experience was frightening.

"I'm just glad the whole house didn't blow up," said Smith, who grabbed her
dog and two cats when she saw the bungalow engulfed in flames.

Smith says she didn't know her neighbours -- two young men -- who moved
into the home in the middle of the night two months ago and seemed to have
a lot of plants.

"They didn't seem like the horticultural types," said Smith.

Smith's partner, Connie Loveday, was suspicious of her neighbour when she
saw him climbing the power pole behind their homes. Bare wires, which had
been cut by emergency crews who suspected electricity theft, were hanging
from the line.

"She thought they were stealing cable," said Smith.

Denis Dyck, co-owner of Dyck Co., which owns the property, said he was
saddened by the fire, but relieved no one was hurt.

Dyck said the house was rented to a man whose father has rented property
from the company for three years. Until the fire, he was unaware of a
second tenant.

"We were relying on the integrity of the father," said Dyck.

The Calgary Fire Department has estimated the damages to be approximately
$250,000.

The investigation continues.