Meth Lab Explodes, House Burns, 1 HurtA Warsaw man suffered severe burns in a house fire allegedly when a methamphetamine lab exploded Sunday afternoon.
Around 7 p.m. Sunday, the Warsaw Fire Department was dispatched to a home at 1091 N. CR 400E, Warsaw, that had caught fire.
While fire crews were on the way to the blaze, it was discovered that a person who had been injured at the residence was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital in a car.
While firefighters were battling the blaze, they learned that there was a methamphetamine lab inside the home, and the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force was called to the scene.
Upon further investigation, officials learned that Charles Lynn Renschler, 31, of Warsaw, had gone to the home and opened the outside door, which caused an explosion of flames.
Renschler suffered burns to his body, and his girlfriend, who witnesses the fire and explosion, drove him to Kosciusko Community Hospital for treatment. He was later transported to the Burn Center at St. Joseph's Hospital, Fort Wayne, where he was listed in critical condition this morning.
The fire spread from the house to an attached garage, causing at least $120,000 in damage.
The owner of the home, Raniell Hill, 33, and two children were in the home at the time of the fire, but escaped without injury. Hill was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.
Hill was arrested at the scene of the fire for disorderly conduct during the investigation of the fire and was booked into Kosciusko County Jail. Her bond was set at $300.
Child Protective Services was contacted and took custody of Hill's children at the scene.
Drug task force officers reportedly took several precursors commonly associated with the production of methamphetamine from the home.
The investigation of the incident is ongoing, and more arrests are expected.
Raniell Hill's husband, Daryle Hill, is the other owner of the home, but he was not home at the time of the fire.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and drug task force were assisted by members of the Warsaw/Wayne Township, Pierceton, Winona Lake, and North Webster Fire Departments.
