East Pleasant Street fire may have resulted from meth lab

The Hillsboro Police Department and Hillsboro Fire and Rescue are currently investigating a house fire in the 100 block of East Pleasant Street that may have been the result of a meth lab. 

The fire department was dispatched at approximately 7:37 p.m. after a 911 call reported the fire in the two-story structure. 

According to Officer Larry Barker of the HPD, the fire may have been the result of a meth lab, but he could not say what led them to believe that. He declined to comment as to whether or not items relating to a meth lab were found at the scene. 

Barker said that two adults and four children rent the home, and were reportedly there when the fire started. 

"But when we got here and started investigating, they went down the street and no one can find them now," Barker said. 

There was significant damage to the second floor and roof, and police tape was put around a car parked on the street and around the front yard of the home. 

In addition to the HFR, Leesburg and Lynchburg fire departments responded to the scene, and the Marshall Fire Department and Leesburg EMS responded for station coverage. 

When asked if the state fire marshal's office or the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation would be called in, Barker said, "We have a detective looking into it right now."