Police Look for Suspects in Meth Lab Explosion

Police in Columbia County continue to look for those responsible for a methamphetamine lab explosion early Thursday morning.

That explosion started a fire at an apartment building in Berwick, forcing eight people, including children, out of their homes.

Police released a photo of Robert Fowler, one of the suspects they believe is responsible.

Officers said Fowler is known for making meth, and they want to find him and several others they said put many people in danger.

“Just to look at that and to know that was from making drugs, it`s disgusting,” said Skylar Matash of Berwick.

State police in protective suits spent about 14 hours going through an apartment building on Summerhill Avenue in Berwick after a fire marshal investigating an early morning fire found evidence of a meth lab that exploded.

Home video showed the thick smoke firefighters found when they arrived. In all eight people, including three children, were forced out of their homes.

Berwick officer Michael Monico kicked in a door to rescue one woman from her apartment.

“You couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. Wow, she’s lucky because she was asleep and she didn’t even hear anything going on,” said Michael Monico, Jr. with Berwick police.

“It’s disturbing and it just doesn’t have any common sense to it. One, producing it and two, doing it in a place where there’s children. It’s just ridiculous,” added Ken Strish with Berwick police.

It was the second time in less than a year that the house was raided. State police were called to the home back in June.

Police and neighbors said meth labs have become a big problem in the area.

“I don`t think they should have them around here or anywhere for that matter,” said Marlin Karchner of Berwick. “We hope they find them all and get rid of them.”

“Just to see another incident, just to see how bad meth really is for our town. Maybe these people driving by and everyone around us will finally see that,” added Andrew Switzer of Wapwallopen.

Skylar Matash saw the first raid at the home. but was not shocked to see that it happened again, and put more people in danger.

“Doesn’t surprise me, the people don’t stop. They continuously do it, they’re users. They need help or they need to go to jail,” added Matash.

Berwick police said they are actively looking for Robert Fowler and others believed to have been involved in making meth at the home.

The eight people forced from their home are being helped by the Red Cross.