MARQUETTE — One person was hospitalized after a structure fire in the city of Marquette Tuesday night.

The Marquette City Fire Department was dispatched to 326 Summit St. around 6:46 p.m. due to reports of a structure fire at the address. Upon arrival at 6:51 p.m., firefighters encountered fire and smoke coming from a detached garage.

Crews had the fire under control within 20 minutes, and the scene was cleared at approximately 8:05 p.m., officials said.

One of the residents at the address, identified as Jacob Thompson, 24, of Marquette, was “severely injured” in the fire, according to a news release from the Marquette Police Department. Thompson was transported to UP Health System – Marquette for treatment of burns to his face, chest and neck areas and was later transported to University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor.

Upon police investigation, it was learned that Thompson was using a flammable chemical to extract tetrahydrocannabinol — commonly known as THC — from marijuana plants, according to a Marquette City Police press release. In doing so, a flash fire occurred, injuring Thompson, police said.

Officers carried out a search warrant at the residence and located large amounts of suspected marijuana, marijuana wax and oil, and multiple apparatuses used in the production of marijuana concentrate, police said.

Marquette City Police Detective Capt. Greg Kinonen reminds the public that while recreational marijuana is now legal in the state of Michigan, there are still laws surrounding the plant to abide by.

“It’s illegal to extract oil from marijuana,” he said. “It needs to be done in a commercial setting. There’s a bunch of regulatory things as well. Even though marijuana is legal in Michigan, it doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want with it. Marijuana laws are relatively new. We’re learning as we go.”

Thompson’s current condition is unknown at this time, police said, and the investigation is ongoing.

Assisting the Marquette City Fire Department and the Marquette Police Department were the Michigan State Police and UP Health System – Marquette EMS.

Ryan Spitza can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. His email address is rspitza@miningjournal.net.