Sonoma County law enforcement shut down a hazardous cannabis extraction lab that officials said created a life-threatening environment for staff and the surrounding area.

On Wednesday, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office along with several other local agencies inspected a 17,000-square-foot warehouse in the unincorporated area of southwest Santa Rosa and found employees illegally extracting cannabis using methods that involve “highly volatile, flammable and explosive gases and liquids,” according to a press release.

County officials said they had not seen such quantities of the hazardous materials before in Sonoma County, materials requiring “the highest level of compliance with fire and life-safety codes.”

A multitude of dangers, including illegal construction, fire systems that had gone untested, and unpermitted electrical and mechanical equipment, created a “life-threatening situation” for those in and around the site, officials said.

An estimated several million dollars worth of cannabis extract were discovered, officials said.

The investigation came after the property owner refused to allow officials inside for inspection. A Superior Court judge issued an inspection warrant after officials presented a slew of concerns, including a potent cannabis odor, past violations and loud machinery, officials said.

This article originally published at ‘Highly volatile’: Bay Area sheriff shuts down illegal, hazardous cannabis extraction lab.