Pubdate: Wed, 22 Dec 2004
Source: Herald, The (WA)
Copyright: 2004 The Daily Herald Co.
Contact:  http://www.heraldnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/190
Author: Katherine Schiffner, Herald Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

TENANTS HOMELESS AFTER METH BLAST

Police arrest a 20-year-old man after an explosion in Arlington forces
the evacuation of four apartments.

ARLINGTON - A methamphetamine lab caused a small explosion early
Tuesday at a four-unit apartment complex in Arlington, Police Chief
John Gray said.

The explosion blew out a bedroom window and started a small fire
shortly after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, he said.

Residents were home in three of the apartments, which are owned by
Compass Health. No one was injured. Arlington firefighters discovered
the lab after responding to the small fire inside a bedroom, Gray said.

Police arrested the suspected meth cook, a 20-year-old man who was
apparently staying with his grandmother. Investigators suspect he was
trying to make the drug using red phosphorus, a dangerous and dirty
method that can be difficult to clean up, Snohomish Regional Drug Task
Force Sgt. John Flood said.

The process generates phosphine gas, which is extremely explosive,
Flood said.

"This explosion could have taken lives," Gray said. The ramifications
are that a neighborhood was placed in jeopardy and innocent people"
are without their homes.

The complex in the 200 block of E. Burke Avenue serves low-income
residents, said Terry Clark, director of development services. At
least four tenants live there. All were evacuated and won't be allowed
to return until the Snohomish Health District, the state Department of
Ecology and an Arlington building inspector determine it's safe.

Compass Health did not know how long that process would take, Clark
said. The American Red Cross is providing shelter for the tenants for
the next three days.

"We're working with the Red Cross, the tenants and the health district
to try to get folks back into their own homes as soon as possible,"
Clark said.
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MAP posted-by: Derek