Meth Lab Explosion Causes Fire in Ohio Nursing Home

A fire erupted at Park Haven Nursing Home, Ashtabula Ohio, that resulted in the death of one person, where individuals had set up a methamphetamine lab to cook up the drug, Ashtabula police said, March 6th 2012. (Ashtabula Fire Department)

A fire erupted at an Ohio nursing home where individuals had set up a methamphetamine lab to cook up the drug, Ashtabula police said today.

The Sunday night fire at the Park Haven Nursing Home resulted in the death of one person, though officials would not release the individual's name or age.

Investigators said the fire was caused by a "clandestine" meth lab in a room on the second floor of the nursing home, and sent five victims to the hospital with injuries.

Nurse Deanna Bigley told the Ashtabula Star Beacon that she saw two or three men, whom she believed to be visitors to the home, engulfed in flames.

Nurses and staff members removed the home's 38 residents from the building and onto a screened-in front porch, she told the newspaper.

The nursing home administrators and staff declined to comment.

According to the Star Beacon, at least one nursing home resident was involved with or aware of the drug making.

Police would not release further details due to the pending investigation. Ashtabula's municipal prosecutor said that no charges had been filed in the case yet.