A 'massive explosion' ripped through a Tulsa-area industrial complex early Sunday morning, killing two men and injuring others at a THC extraction facility whose owner had allegedly ignored an order to shut down operations after a failed fire inspection, authorities said.
Background
The Sand Springs Fire Department responded around 1 a.m. to reports of a fire at 421 S. Lincoln Ave., where heavy flames were already erupting from the building housing Solos Extract Co., officials said. When firefighters arrived on scene, they found one victim pronounced dead at the location while paramedics rushed another injured man to a local hospital, where he later died.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe into the incident that investigators say involved highly flammable gases commonly used in THC extraction processes, such as butane or propane. The blast was chemically related, according to fire officials who spoke with the Tulsa World.
"He basically told them they weren't allowed to work until they fixed the discrepancies that he listed and they have not done that up to this point," Sand Springs Deputy Police Chief Todd Enzbrenner told the newspaper, referring to a fire marshal's recent cease-and-desist order issued after an inspection failure last week.
The explosion damaged at least 25 other businesses in the industrial complex, with debris scattered throughout the property. Local residents reported feeling the blast from up to 30 miles away.
"I was scared to death, I didn't know what had happened," one neighbor told reporters. "The whole roof is blown off on half of that building. It looks like somebody peeled a banana."
The Investigation
Ryan Bassham, identified as the owner of Solos Extract Co., has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths, according to court records reviewed by Law & Crime.
Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler told local television station KJRH that authorities believe Bassham may be attempting to evade arrest. "We have reason to believe he may be attempting to avoid arrest," Kunzweiler said. "If anyone has knowledge as to his whereabouts, contact local law enforcement."
Investigators have not yet publicly identified the two victims who died in the blast. Reports indicate that at least one employee of the company was living inside the building when the explosion occurred.
Key Takeaways
- Two men died in an early morning explosion at Solos Extract Co. in Sand Springs, Oklahoma on August 30, 2026
- Owner Ryan Bassham has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and is believed to be evading arrest
- A fire marshal had ordered the business to cease operations last week following a failed inspection
- The explosion damaged at least 25 neighboring businesses in an industrial complex
- Investigators say butane or propane was being used for THC extraction when the blast occurred
What's Next
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion. Authorities are asking anyone with information regarding Ryan Bassham's whereabouts to contact local law enforcement immediately. The investigation remains active as officials work to identify the victims and piece together the sequence of events that led to the deadly blast.