The aftermath of a Palm Desert cannabis business explosion leaves businesses with major damage

In Palm Desert, there are multiple businesses in a lot off of Gateway Drive & Dick Kelly Drive that sustained significant damage after an explosion happened at a cannabis business on Tuesday.

Owners we spoke with say that after the fire department put out the fire that day, they left water in the parking lot. “That caused a major backup and clog, and all the gunk and marijuana and whatever else it is that they washed down was stuck here and basically washed all the way down towards our warehouse,” says General Manager of Maxx Industries Predrag Novakovic. He described the smell; “It smelled really bad chemicals and whatever else is in there.”

The employees did not know that there was a sinkhole until after they started to suck out the water and clean up the debris themselves. They were frustrated with the city for lack of communication and help after the incident. Novakovic gave us a timeline of how he and his team began to clean up. “I called the city at 8 am on Wednesday, and around 2 pm, Someone came and just put caution tape and closed off this area. On Thursday, all day, nothing happened. And then we basically drained the water and then cleaned it up on Friday.