DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Five people, including an infant and two Volusia County sheriff's deputies, were taken to a hospital after a meth lab explosion near Daytona Beach, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's officials said two adults, George Wiggins and Laura Wiggins, and an 8-month-old child were in the 10th Street house at the time of the explosion around 11:30 a.m.
"The sound was 'boom,' just a big old boom. Just real quick," area resident Derek Bookamer said.
Bookamer was one of several residents who rushed from their homes after hearing the loud explosion. It wasn't long before they learned deputies said the explosion was a meth lab and that an infant was in the house.
"I found out just a minute go that a baby was involved and that just really got my nerves going, so I'm shaking a bit," said Bookamer.
"That's pretty bad for this neighborhood. It shouldn't be here, you know. We got too many kids around here," resident Shawn Steele said.
Investigators said someone in the home was making methamphetamine in a fire extinguisher. They said the cylinder overpressurized and burst, spilling chemicals throughout the house.
According to deputies, a woman in the house and the infant were evaluated as a precaution. A man in the house had to be treated.
Two deputies who responded to the explosion were taken in for evaluation after inhaling fumes from the house.
"It's a really bad thing, you know. You can hurt your children, you can hurt other people. You shouldn't have it in the neighborhood," Steele said.
Deputies said the Wiggins were released from the hospital and arrested on multiple drug and child neglect charged.
The child is in the care of the Department of Children and Families.
WFTV
