By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
VANDALIA -- Cass County Drug Enforcement Team detectives are investigating a methamphetamine lab fire which occurred at 9:47 a.m. Wednesday at 17877 State St., a block from the post office.
Sheriff Joseph M. Underwood Jr. said a call came into the E-911 center at 9:47 a.m. April 28 about a fire and explosion in the village of Vandalia. Penn Township Fire Department responded. Upon entry into the structure firefighters noticed meth lab components. Penn Township then contacted the drug team and a Michigan State Police fire marshal from Niles. Once on the scene, a search warrant was executed after the lab was dismantled by the state police meth team. The sheriff reported that during execution of the search warrant, detectives from the drug enforcement team his office operates with Dowagiac Police Department were able to find meth lab components, "finished product" and some marijuana inside the two-story frame house.
The occupant of the house, Anthony Hinton, 27, was airlifted from the scene by Air Care after being treated by Dowagiac and Cassopolis ambulance services. Air Care transported Hinton to Bronson Methodist Hospital's burn unit in Kalamazoo, where he was listed in critical condition.
The case remains under investigation by the drug enforcement team and will be turned over to the Cass County Prosecutor's Office for review.