Neighbors hear ‘pops’ before fire; officials suspect meth drug
lab
Morgan Hill – Authorities suspect a fire that erupted late Thursday afternoon in southwest Morgan Hill may have been caused by the explosion of a methamphetamine drug lab, though the investigation is far from finished.
Law enforcement officials and firefighters on the scene could not confirm if the fire was related to the manufacture of the pervasive and dangerous drug known to produce explosive chemical byproducts.
Neighbors of the property, located at 15325 Sycamore Drive in a rural, unincorporated area of Morgan Hill, called 911 after seeing black smoke and hearing several loud pops, they think may have been explosions.
“I had just returned home about (4:50pm) when I noticed the smoke,” said neighbor Christine Borg. “I knew the people who own the property, who are elderly, were out of town, but I didn’t know what was in the barn, which is where the smoke appeared to be coming from.”
California Department of Forestry Battalion Chief Derek Witmer said there was no one in or around the barn when firefighters arrived on the scene and no one was injured in the inferno.
“We were very concerned, however, about what may have been in the barn,” Witmer said. Firefighters wore the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus to prevent inhaling dangerous chemicals that may have emanated from the barn.
Firefighters also were worried about the area surrounding the property, which was overgrown with dry brush, bushes and small trees.
“We also wanted to watch the hillside immediately behind the property, which is just covered in dry brush,” Witmer said.
There were several small vegetation fires around the barn, firefighters said, that crews quickly extinguished.
A CDF helicopter circled for nearly an hour, dropping water on the fire. Firefighters said the crew likely scooped the water from nearby Chesbro reservoir.
Witmer said four CDF engines responded, along with two water tankers and a bulldozer. South County Fire sent three engines and two water tenders, and Santa Clara County Fire sent two vehicles.
Other CDF departments, including Gavilan Camp and San Benito County, were on stand-by in case the fire spread.
The property the barn was located on is nestled between several hills in the midst of a residential neighborhood, with houses less than a football field away.
Neighbors gathered a safe distance from the flames to exchange information and watch the firefighters battle the blaze.
Borg and neighbor James Dill said there had been “a lot of activity” around the property in the past few months and they feared there might be a meth lab in the barn when they heard the minor explosions.
Borg said she also knew there was an old truck on the property and was concerned it could be parked in the barn.
Witmer said Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office deputies made two arrests on or near the property earlier in the day, but it is unclear if it was related to the fire. Sheriff officials were unavailable for comment by press time.
