Explosion sends two to hospital, closes ER

By Staff
Melissa Cason
RED BAY- A portion of Red Bay Hospital had to be decontaminated Monday night after a woman and small child were brought into the facility.
The two were believed to have been burned during a methamphetamine lab explosion. Officials now believe the explosion was caused by an open container of gasoline that was left near a dryer.
The Red Bay Police Department and officials from the Franklin County Sheriff's Department assisted with the decontamination effort.
Red Bay Police Sgt. Scottie Belue said a woman and her child arrived at the hospital by private car with serious injuries that were believed to have been a result of a meth lab explosion.
"Based on what I was told by Itawamba County (Miss.) deputies, the woman had previous involvement with meth," Belue said.
He said the woman told officers that a water heater blew up, but officials were not sure of the explosion's origins, and the hospital's emergency room shut down in order to be decontaminated.
"The woman and her baby had to be decontaminated before they could be flown to another medical facility," Belue said.
Belue said the explosion is still under investigation by the Itawamba County Sheriff's Department.
Red Bay Police Chief Pat Creel said the woman is listed in serious condition at University of Alabama-Birmingham Hospital and the toddler has improved but is still listed in serious condition at Children's Hospital in Birmingham.
The victims' names have not been released.