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Public Safety

One Injured In Otay Mesa Explosion

Emergency crews respond to a warehouse explosion in Otay Mesa, Aug. 19, 2015.
10News
Emergency crews respond to a warehouse explosion in Otay Mesa, Aug. 19, 2015.

An explosive flash fire injured a man Wednesday at a marijuana-growing operation housed in a warehouse just north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The fire in the 9800 block of Marconi Drive in Otay Mesa occurred shortly after 2 p.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

Witnesses reported hearing a resulting boom or blast, SDFRD spokesman Lee Swanson said.

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Medics took a man believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s to Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center for treatment of injuries of undetermined severity.

A hazardous materials team tested the area, finding no public-health threats.

The cause of the blaze, which caused no structural damage, was under investigation. Fire crews believed it might have been sparked by a problem with an electrical circuit board, according to Swanson.

San Diego police were working to determine who was responsible for establishing and running the cannabis-production setup, the spokesman said.

In October 2004, authorities uncovered a nearly six-ton stash of marijuana in a storehouse at the same site, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.