Fire leads investigators to possible meth lab

COMSTOCK (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A small fire lead to the discovery of a possible meth lab in Comstock Tuesday.

Neighbors at the Birchwood Apartments in the 8,000 block of East Michigan Avenue awoke around midnight to the smell of acid and smoke.

Neighbors say they heard glass shattering from an apartment and smoke billowed from the door as investigators say the two people inside put out a small fire. A fire investigators say they believe was the result of cooking meth.

"I heard a loud crash, guy was running out and smoke was everywhere," said neighbor Ross Culvern.

At 4:00 am a meth team from the Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Department continued to search for meth toxins and evacuated 12 apartments in fears that harsh chemicals seeped into neighboring walls.

Inside apartment 10 bottles of possibly toxic chemicals were found. Neighbors say they saw two people running to throw things away.

"We went dumpster diving, looking for remnants of a meth lab," said Sgt. Richard Fuller.

With masks on investigators say it's exactly what they found. It is unsettling news for parents who say the building is full of young families.

"Like any curious 5-year-old he's into everything, he would not hesitate to pick up something and play with it," said Jodi Pearman, talking about her son.

Investigators say they have to test all the evidence before they can officially rule this a meth lab. No arrests have been made, but they do have two people in for questioning. One was treated for minor burns at hospital.

Everyone is back home safely.