Thursday, February 19th, 2015
Authorities probing whether home fire linked to meth lab
By Kathy Thompson
CELINA - A Wednesday morning fire at a West Anthony Street house has led to a police investigation of a possible meth lab.
The Celina Fire Department asked police officers to assist at the 7:30 a.m. house fire at 416 W. Anthony St., police chief Tom Wale said this morning. Officers secured the scene while firefighters brought the fire under control, Wale said. The fire completely destroyed the home, according to fire department reports.
While fighting the blaze, firefighters discovered suspicious items that could be connected with drug abuse, Wale said.
Officers obtained a search warrant and found items consistent with the manufacture of methamphetamine, according to Wale. Those items have been sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations for analysis, Wale added.
No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, Wale said.
A State Fire Marshal's official was called to the scene but the cause of the fire is still undetermined. No one was home at the time, Wale said, and no injuries were reported.
