Meth Lab May Have Sparked Fire In Abandoned Tulsa Apartment Building

Arson investigators were called to the scene of a fire at what was supposed to be an unoccupied apartment building overnight Sunday. There is evidence that the fire was caused by transients making methamphetamine, authorities say.

A Tulsa County Sheriff's deputy saw smoke coming from the Coliseum Apartments at 7th and Elgin at midnight, according to Tulsa District Fire Chief Jeremy Moore.

The deputy heard voices on the second floor of the boarded up building and saw people throwing debris out of an apartment window.

When firefighters arrived, they conducted search and rescue operations, Moore said.

"We were able to bring one victim out of the building using the interior stairwells," he said. The man was not injured.

In addition to the victim, firefighters found meth-making materials. Moore said they believe the people in the building at the time of the fire threw the plastic bottles and other debris outside. Arson investigators and hazard materials crews were called in to process the scene.

The building was mostly secured, but transients had broken into the back of the brick building, he said.

The man who'd been helped out of the apartment was cooperating with investigators, Moore said.

Anyone with information about this fire or other suspects who may have left the scene, call 918-596-ARSN.