The explosion happened around 1 a.m. near St. Clair, about 50 miles southwest of St. Louis. Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke said three men were in the home making meth. The home was badly damaged.
Names of the suspects were not released pending formal charges.
A female friend of the injured man drove him to an ambulance garage and told paramedics he had suffered a seizure. Instead, Toelke said, paramedics found the man had suffered severe burns and damage to his eyes and ears. He was taken to St. John's Mercy Medical Center in suburban St. Louis, where he was in critical condition.
A second suspect was arrested. Police were looking for the third man but believe he also was injured.
Toelke said explosions and fires resulting from the making of meth happen too often. Last year, a man was killed while making meth in a car in Franklin County, the sheriff said.
