Three people, including an 11-year-old and a 17-year-old, were burned from a reported methamphetamine laboratory explosion Sunday in Eau Claire.

Shortly after midnight Sunday, the Dowagiac City Police Department was sent to  Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital after a 36-year-old female was brought to the hospital with severe chemical burns.

At approximately the same time, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department was sent to Lakeland Hospital in Niles, after a 17-year-old male entered the hospital for chemical burns.

During this investigation, the Dowagiac City Police Department and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department learned that the chemical burns to both subjects were caused by a meth lab explosion.

The investigation then lead the officers to a residence  at 6220 Apple St. in the Village of Eau Claire.

While the officers were at this residence, the officers found evidence that the meth lab explosion occurred at this residence.

The Berrien County Sheriff Department’s Narcotics Unit then obtained a search warrant for this residence and during a search of this residence, the officers located and seized evidence of meth manufacturing.

Also during this investigation, the officers learned  an 11-year-old boy had been inside of the residence during the meth lab explosion and the child was currently in the custody of a family member.

The officers then located the 11-year-old boy and the officers observed minor chemical burns on the child. The child was then taken into protective custody and transported to Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph for examination and treatment of his injuries.

The State of Michigan’s Children’s Protective Services responded to Lakeland Hospital to assist in the investigation.

The Berrien, Pipestone, Eau Claire Fire Department assisted the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department at the residence at 6220 Apple St. by providing ventilation and lighting equipment, while the officers conducted the search of the residence.

A hazardous waste disposal company was dispatched to the scene to remove the hazardous waste generated by the meth manufacturing.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department will be seeking criminal charges on the subjects manufacturing meth at 6220 Apple St. through the Berrien County Trial Court.

These criminal charges will include operating a methamphetamine laboratory in the presence of a minor;  operating a methamphetamine laboratory within 500 feet of a residence/occupied structure; operating a methamphetamine laboratory generating hazardous waste; child neglect; and maintaining a drug house.

This investigation is currently an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Berrien County Sheriff Department’s Narcotics Unit and Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Road Patrol.