Two Austin men are listed in critical condition after a methamphetamine lab fire on Saturday.

Monday, January 15, 2001

Two Austin men are listed in critical condition after a methamphetamine lab fire on Saturday.

An Austin police officer was in an alley in the 1000 block of 11th Avenue SW speaking to three individuals when he heard a window break and yelling from the residence.

The officer approached the residence and saw smoke coming from the house and people exiting. He notified dispatchers that there was a fire and from the smell he detected that the cause could be methamphetamine.

The three individuals the officer had been speaking to told him that two people had run out of the back of the residence. They identified one as Troy Meyer. The other was described as 6 feet tall, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans and driving a dark Dodge Intrepid.

Sandra Johnson was exiting the front of the residence with her 4-year-old son. Johnson put her son in her vehicle, which was parked in front of the property. James Chilson got in the rear of the car and when questioned by the officer about burns observed on his body, Chilson requested ambulance service.

He was transported by Gold Cross Ambulance Service to Austin Medical Center and later to Regions Hospital in the Twin Cities.

The Austin Fire Department extinguished the fire from outside the residence – through a basement window. The heat of the flash fire caused it to burn hot and then lose some of its force. The Fire Department also was aided by a copper pipe that leaked water onto the fire after the initial blaze melted solder on the pipe.

Further investigation identified the two suspects who fled as Chad Seys, 31, and Jamie Schammel, 20, both of Austin. Information gained indicated that the four individuals were cooking methamphetamine in the basement of Chilson’s residence.

After going upstairs, Chilson saw the police officer parked nearby and ran downstairs to warn the others. Allegedly they then began pouring Coleman fuel down the floor drain in the basement. Fire Chief Dan Wilson believes that possibly a spark from the water heater ignited the fumes, causing the flash fire.

From further information received during the investigation, officers located an acquaintance of Jamie Schammel. The acquaintance would not allow officers to enter her residence until they informed her that they would obtain a search warrant. She eventually let them in and officers found Schammel, whom was burned on the entire upper portion of his body. He also was transported to Regions.

A small amount of methamphetamine was found on the property after the fire was extinguished. A safety cleanup crew from the Twin Cities came to the residence, but no damage was reported to surrounding residences and no evacuations were necessary.

Officers believe that Meyer took some of the methamphetamine evidence when he fled. Police are still looking for him and do not know if he was burned in the fire as well.

Johnson was taken to the Law Enforcement Center, where she still is being held. After being arrested, Chad Seys, 31, later was released. Chilson is in critical condition and may not survive his injuries. Schammel also is in critical condition, but it is unknown at this time what his prognosis is.

"Most likely all will be charged," Police Chief Paul Philipp said.