Garage Fire Leads to Discovery of Meth Lab

What started as a garage fire ended with a man being arrested and charged with operating a meth lab.

Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland says the fire broke out Thursday night at 5 Johnson Road in Houlton. As fire crews battled the blaze, Houlton Police called in the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency to investigate.

Based on evidence gathered at the scene, agents say they believe a meth lab was being operated in the garage. The home's owner, Thomas Lowery, 36, was arrested and charged with Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs (methamphetamine). He was taken to the Aroostook County Jail and held on $5,000 bail.

The garage was destroyed by the fire. The adjacent house was not damaged.