Fire likely caused by meth lab
VINA – Three people were arrested on drug charges after authorities discovered a Monday evening house fire in Vina was most likely the result of an active meth lab.
Dennis Dewayne McCarley, 34, 751 Franklin 72, Red Bay; Tobi Hall, 29, 146 Bluegrass Rd., Hamilton; and Johny Lloyd Bell, 33, 6233 Franklin 19, Vina, were all arrested on charges of first-degree attempt to manufacture a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Bell was additionally charged with animal cruelty.
According to Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver, the Vina Volunteer Fire Department and the Hodges Police Department were dispatched to a house fire at a residence on Franklin 19 in Vina at 6 p.m. Monday.
Oliver said when officers arrived on the scene, they discovered Bell had sustained possible chemical burns and he was transported to ECM Hospital in Florence to be treated for his injuries.
While attending to the fire, Oliver said authorities discovered what was believed to be an active meth lab at the residence.
Oliver said Hodges Police Chief Mike Franklin contacted the Franklin County Drug Unit upon discovery of the meth lab.
Oliver said the drug unit located multiple mixed chemicals, lab equipment and other items that gave an indication that several meth labs had been manufactured at the residence.
Russellville Fire Department and the county’s hazmat team were dispatched to the residence to assist in the disposing of the hazardous materials.
Oliver said after Bell was treated for his injuries, he was taken into custody on the drug charges. He said McCarley and Hall were connected to the meth labs during the course of the investigation and were picked up at a house next door to the house that caught fire.
“We say all the time how dangerous meth labs can be and this just proves it,” Oliver said. “The house fire and the injuries could have all been prevented if these people hadn’t been mixing dangerous chemicals.
“This is one of the main reasons for our recent drug round-up – we don’t want dangerous activities like this taking place in our county that can result in serious injuries or even fatalities. And these activities are happening all over the county, not just in Vina. Vina is a good town with good people and we just hate something like this happened here.”
Bell, Hall and McCarley were all still in custody at the Franklin County Jail at press time.
