Full Notification

Yesterday (9/15), around 12PM, members of the Novato Police Department and Novato Fire Protection District responded to the report of a structure fire at a residence on Yukon Way.
 
Officers prepared to evacuate nearby residences, while Novato Fire personnel extinguished the flames. The fire was contained to one residence and did not spread to neighboring homes. While fighting the fire, investigators noticed evidence of the manufacturing of butane hash oil.
 
Butane hash oil (BHO) is a form of concentrated cannabis derived from cannabis plants. Extraction can exceptionally dangerous and is a serious fire hazard.
 
Officers gathered evidence and spoke with the resident identified as, 42-year-old Brendan Hummel. The officers determined Hummel inadvertently started the fire while manufacturing BHO. NPD enlisted assistance from the Marin County Sheriff’s Office Specialized Investigative Unit (SIU) as they have extensive training in working on these types of incidents.
 
Hummel was treated for a minor injury and was released to the custody of Novato Police. Hummel was arrested and booked into the Marin County Jail for manufacturing a controlled substance and starting a reckless fire.
 
We are very grateful for our partners at the Novato Fire Protection District and the Marin County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in this case. We appreciate witnesses who called in to quickly report the fire ultimately leading to a safe resolution. We will see cooler temperatures arise with the first day of Fall right around the corner, however grasses are still very dry, and fires can spread quickly with higher winds. Some of most dangerous fire conditions can occur during this time of year, so please remember to stay alert and make sure to have a go bag ready in case of evacuation. If you see a crime occurring or active flames, call 9-1-1 immediately. Report suspicious behavior to Novato Police by calling 415-897-4361 or filing a report online at novato.org/reportacrime. Stay safe Novato!