There's been a dangerous discovery in a southeastern Kentucky home.
For nearly nine hours, hazmat, police and fire crews were on the scene of a synthetic drug lab in Williamsburg.
It's a task they didn't expect. Williamsburg police detective Wayne Bird, "I was really surprised we had a synthetic drug lab within the city limits. It's the first one I know of in southeastern Kentucky."
Police say some new tenants were cleaning out the basement of 544 North 6th Street when they noticed a strange smell coming from more than a dozen containers.
Bird says, "The chemicals that are down there are lethal and very highly explosive and flammable. Residents here were real lucky."
Hazmat officials say this wasn't their typical drug discovery. The chemicals hidden in the basement were so toxic, they can burn away flesh in seconds.
Brian Reams is with Hazmat Task Force 11. "If you get it on you, it's going to start eating from your epidermis all the way through your skin all the way to the bone, right on through the tissue."
So, Hazmat Task Force 11 suited up and walked into a situation most had never seen before.
They call it a synthetic drug lab--capable of producing drugs like PCP and heroin--chemicals that when mixed are so dangerous precautions like encapsulated suits and decontamination are required.
Reams says, "I'm concerned because it's something new for the area. We've had an uphill battle for three years with methamphetamine labs. Now, we're facing another battle."
As soon as the chemicals are removed from the house, crews carefully contain and separate the substances.
Only through this tedious process do officials say they can determine what was being made.
As for who was making the drugs, police say past residents include college students.
Bird says, "The house is known to rent to college students. The college is fairly close. The type of chemicals that are down there at one time came out of a college laboratory."
For many on this late night discovery, this was the first, and they hope the last synthetic drug lab.
The chemicals will be taken to a lab for processing. Police say they have two suspects and arrests are pending.
