Keith Taylor

An Athens man is facing multiple drug charges after two meth labs caught fire Friday evening at his residence where Limestone County sheriff’s deputies were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on unrelated charges.

Keith Elmo Taylor, 48, of 22369 Smith Road, is charged with first-degree manufacturing a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and unauthorized use of a vehicle, said Deputy Stephen Young, public information officer for the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office.

He remained in the Limestone County Jail Monday with bail set at $10,000 on the distribution charge and $1,000 each on the possession and unauthorized use charges. Bail had not yet been set on the manufacturing charge.

Deputy Danny Craig went to Taylor’s residence on Smith Road to execute an arrest warrant on the unauthorized use of a vehicle charge. Taylor was sitting on the rear steps of the residence when Craig arrived, but ran into the residence. As Craig gave chase, he observed an active meth lab in the rear of the residence. Additional deputies arrived, and Taylor was found hiding in an air-conditioner vent in the hallway.

Narcotics investigator Jamie King then arrived to assess the meth lab, which caught on fire and had to be put out with a fire extinguisher from Craig’s patrol vehicle. While investigators were removing flammable materials, another lab caught fire and also had to be extinguished. It was later determined that exposed lithium strips, which ignite when in contact with moisture, were the cause of the fires.

Piney Chapel Fire Department was called for assistance due to the fire hazard before further investigation. Deputies obtained a search warrant. While searching the residence, deputies found 14 meth labs, 2 gas generators, 18 grams of meth, more than 30 syringes, a small amount of marijuana, and various other paraphernalia and precursors for cooking meth.