Apartment fire under investigation

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida apartment fire is under investigating after evidence revealed a possible drug lab.

Hollywood Fire Rescue responded to an apartment fire located at the Lakewood Apartments at 3630 N. 56th Ave. in Hollywood, around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.

According to fire rescue, firefighters were suspicious about the fire due to items found inside the condo.

The 32-year-old man who was found inside the apartment told investigators he was cooking when the fire started. The man suffered second and third degree burns on his hands, face and neck.

DEA agents responded to the scene and collected suspicious evidence they said might belong to a drug lab. "The protocol is to go in and determine what is evidence, collect that and then bring that to our drug lab for processing. They will analyze the chemicals and determine what they are," said DEA PIO David Melenkevitz.

Investigators kept residents at a safe distance during the investigation and said a home drug lab can produce dangerous chemicals that travel in the air. Residents who live here are shocked. "Even though I live on the other side, you still don't know what's going on around you, and you start feeling a little unsafe. I am worried," said Jackie Bastidis.

The burn victim has not been question by investigators and is recovering at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

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