By Andrea McCann
Washington Times-Herald
WASHINGTON —
A fire that destroyed a house on CR 300S Wednesday was caused by a methamphetamine lab malfunction.
Chris Spalding, 43, the home’s occupant, admitted to Daviess County Sheriff’s Det. Sgt. Bill Dougherty that he had a mix-up in his meth lab. He told the detective he ran out of the house after the explosion and went into hiding at a Pike County residence.
“He was doing a one-pot cook and had a bad reaction,” Dougherty said. “It actually exploded in front of him.”
The detective estimated about 30 percent of Spalding’s skin was burned.
Immediately following the fire, it was unknown if Spalding was inside the home when it burned. At the scene, his sister, Denitra Spalding, said the family couldn’t find anyone who’d had contact with him since 10 or 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. She said his phone company was contacted to track his phone, but it was either off or destroyed in the fire. Both of his vehicles were home, according to family members. Around 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Spalding called his brother, Brian Spalding, from a phone with a blocked number to let him know he was alive.
“He wouldn’t tell anyone where he was at,” Dougherty said.
A sheriff’s department news release on Thursday stated that meth lab materials were located at the scene of the fire. Dougherty said investigators found stripped lithium battery casings and pseudophedrine blister packs in the rubble, so a search warrant was secured for the rest of the property. Once the warrant arrived, finished product and lab paraphernalia were found elsewhere on the property. The Indiana State Police Methamphetamine Lab Team was contacted to assist in processing and cleanup of the lab material.
Spalding was located at the Pike County residence late Wednesday evening.
“I had a tip, followed up on it, and it led to a residence in Pike County,” Dougherty said.
Pike County EMS personnel were contacted to transport Spalding to a hospital, but when they arrived, they determined he needed to be airlifted directly to a burn unit, Dougherty said. Originally, the plan was to fly him to Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis, he explained, but because of air currents, they took him to the University of Louisville Hospital burn unit instead.
“They were worried about infection setting in,” Dougherty said, adding that Spalding’s burns had received no attention since they occurred.
The fire started at approximately 3 a.m. The neighbor reportedly heard an explosion and when he looked outside, the house was engulfed in flames, so he called it in. Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tony Wichman said firefighters had the blaze under control by 3:30 a.m. He said the roof collapsed, knocking everything into the basement.
Spalding told Dougherty he was alone at the time of the explosion. Criminal charges will be pending.
