VIDEO: Springfield's Fire Chief says there is nothing he can do when it comes to recommending charges in fires caused as a result of drug production, so he is taking the fight to the capitol.
The issue regards to two sections of the current state fire law-- which were written when focus was on methamphetamine. Now, when someone starts a fire that leads to damage or injuries, they can be charged with a felony only if they were making meth. If the fire started from another controlled substance, state law categorizes it as a misdemeanor.
Chief Pennington told city council members Tuesday that butane hash oil products are extremely volatile and the next step is to get state lawmakers to take this possible change to a committee.
"We've had two explosions and fires in the city of Springfield in 2018," said Pennington. "My colleagues on the west coast where marijuana is legal in all aspects have had a tremendous growth in fires that result in either grow labs in someone's home, or particularly butane hash oil production."