Police said the lives of two children were put in danger over the weekend when a suspected drug lab exploded inside a northeast Edmonton garage.
Police said a 10-year-old and an 11-year-old were inside a home in the area of 66 Street and 149 Avenue Sunday afternoon when the detached garage exploded and caught fire.
The kids were taken to hospital as a precaution and have since been released.
“It’s disconcerting these children were placed in harm’s way,” Staff Sgt. Mark Hilton, with the Edmonton Police Service, said.
“Fortunately, they weren’t injured, or worse, killed. The children are now in the care of other family members.”
Police and fire crews were called to the property at around 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Police said a 33-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were taken to hospital with minor burns. The man has since been released from hospital, and the woman remained in care Monday afternoon.
READ MORE: Northeast Edmonton garage fire sends 2 to hospital
Charges are pending against the man and woman. Police would not release details on the potential relationship between the kids and the adults.
City of Edmonton engineers and members of the EPS Clandestine Lab unit were at the scene Monday to determine if the structure was safe enough for police to execute a search warrant.
“Once the structure is deemed safe, police will then conduct a search warrant on the property,” EPS spokesperson Noreen Remtulla said.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.