PA Firefighter Suffers Minor Burn at Meth Lab Fire

A Lebanon man could face charges after he recovers from injuries he suffered when a methamphetamine lab exploded.

According to police, first responders were called to an apartment in the 200 block of East Cumberland Street around 9:30 p.m. Sunday for a fire caused by chemicals exploding.

Someone had run away from the apartment before police arrived and a firefighter suffered a minor chemical burn on his arm while containing the fire.

Police said they believe that a small methamphetamine lab had exploded in the apartment and called in the state police’s Clandestine Laboratory Response Team to help neutralize the chemicals and make the area safe.

When officers searched the area surrounding the apartment building, they found 57-year-old Brian Gingrich hiding under a boat, police said.

Gingrich was injured in the explosion and was transported to a local medical facility before being transferred to a specialized burn unit, police said. Gingrich is recovering from the injuries.

Lebanon police and the Lebanon County Drug Task Force investigated the explosion. Police said Gingrich was making meth and possessed various items and ingredients to manufacture the drug in the apartment.

Charges against Gingrich are pending his recovery and the completion of the investigation.

There were no other occupants in the building injured during the explosion and the American Red Cross assisted residents that were displaced.

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