An Austin man has died as a result of injuries from a fire at a suspected meth lab in January.

Wednesday, February 21, 2001

An Austin man has died as a result of injuries from a fire at a suspected meth lab in January.

James Chilson, 42, sustained second- and third-degree burns over most of his body in the fire at his Austin residence. He died at Regions Hospital in the Twin Cities overnight, according to police this morning.

According to Austin police, Chilson saw an officer speaking to some individuals in the neighborhood near his residence shortly after 2 a.m. on Jan. 15 and ran downstairs, where he and others allegedly were preparing methamphetamine.

The other individuals were identified later as Troy Allen Meyer, 34; Sandra Johnson, 35; and Jamie Schammel, 20.

Chilson and the others quickly poured the methamphetamine ingredients down the basement drain and the fumes then ignited, possibly by a cigarettes or a spark from a water heater, causing an explosion.

The Austin Fire Department put out the remainder of the fire through the basement window of Chilson’s house.

Schammel also was burned in fire. He is listed in stable condition at the Regions Hospital burn unit.