A fire in a Riverdale home led police to an apparent methamphetamine lab this weekend.
Police have arrested and charged a 23-year-old man in connection with the investigation.
The Whitehorse Fire Department was called by residents of a house on Alsek Drive at approximately 1:15 a.m. Sunday, Fire Chief Kevin Lyslo said.
Once the fire had been put out, “indicators at the scene led responders to believe that an illegal drug production facility was set up in the residence,” according to an RCMP news release.
Lyslo wouldn’t say what it was that caught firefighters’ attention.
Police were called to the house shortly before 2 a.m.
Investigators determined the risk to the public was considered low and no homes in the area had to be evacuated, police said.
A specialized RCMP team that investigates clandestine drug laboratories came to Whitehorse on Sunday to process the scene. They’ll be heading back home today.
RCMP Insp. Archie Thompson said the suspected drug lab in the house was “smaller in nature.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Lyslo said.
Trevor Mendham, 23, has been charged with production of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and a nuisance charge for endangering life.
He is scheduled to be in court tomorrow.
Contact Ashley Joannou at
ashleyj@yukon-news.com