HOULTON, Maine — Houlton firefighters got more than they bargained for Thursday evening when responding to a report of an explosion and fire on Johnson Street in Houlton.
Firefighters found a fire, but they also discovered items used to manufacture methamphetamine, prompting a call to the Houlton Police Department and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Following an investigation, Thomas Lowery, 36, of Houlton was subsequently charged with trafficking in Schedule W drugs (methamphetamine) a Class B felony. Lowery was taken to the Aroostook County Jail, where bail was set at $5,000 cash. He remained at the jail Friday afternoon.
MDEA’s Aroostook Task Force office responded to 5 Johnson St. in Houlton to assist the Houlton Police Department in an investigation involving the suspected manufacturing of methamphetamine. At the time of the police response, the Houlton Fire Department was still on scene extinguishing a structure fire that was contained to the garage at this residence.
“Based upon evidence gathered during the investigation, agents had probable cause to believe that methamphetamine was being manufactured on the property,” according to Peter Arno of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Houlton Fire Chief Milton Cone said the fire was reported at 10:48 p.m. by a neighboring resident who heard an explosion and saw smoke coming from Lowery’s attached garage. Lowery was not home at the time of the fire and no vehicles were present in the garage.
“By the time we arrived, the attached garage was fully involved and the roof had collapsed,” Cone said. “During our suppression effort, we discovered items that gave us reason to call HPD and MDEA.”
Twenty-four firefighters spent about an hour containing the fire, to make sure it did not spread to the house.
The origin and cause of the fire in the garage remains under investigation.
