WASHINGTON — A man was injured in what Washington police suspect may have been a methamphetamine lab explosion Sunday afternoon. Washington police and firefighters were called to 403 S.W. Fourth St. at 6:02 p.m. when a caller reported a house fire. A male subject was seen fleeing the house and was stopped by police on W. Main Street across from the Washington Carnegie Library. The man had been seriously burned, with one officer describing “the skin falling from his body” when they apprehended him. He was taken by ambulance to Daviess Community Hospital and then by medical helicopter to the burn unit at Wishard Hospital, Indianapolis. Off-duty firefighters were called in to help battle the blaze and were at the scene until 10:30 p.m. Fire Chief Dave Rhoads said the fire began in a front bedroom, that was not being used as a bedroom and flashed through the house, scorching the whole inside. The state fire marshal has been called in to investigate. Rhoads said the house is owned by Mike Neff and is a rental, but he was unsure of the renter’s name. The police report indicated five people lived at the house, but the injured man, a woman and small child were at the house at the time of the fire. While firefighters brought the fire under control, police secured a search warrant for the residence from the prosecutor. Washington Police Chief Steve Riney said Monday they were unsure about the name of the victim, as several names had been given. He did say the women at the scene was brought in for questioning and the child, a toddler girl, was checked by ambulance personal at the scene and Child Protective Services was contacted. While the state police meth team was contacted, the fire had destroyed any hazardous material, according to Riney. Riney said the neighbors weren’t in danger from the smoke. “My concern was for the firefighters and my guys (city police) that were in there,” Riney said. Riney said the investigation is in an early stage and is ongoing.
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Neighbors gathered Sunday to watch Washington firefighters battle a fire on S.W. Fourth Street. The state fire marshal has been called in to help determine the cause, which may have been a meth lab. By Kelly Overton
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