An uptown fire caused by a Tulane student could have him facing five to 15 years in prison.

On Nov. 19, New Orleans fire fighters responded to an uptown fire in the 3200 block of Carondelet Street. Once the blaze was contained and police arrived at the scene, they found clues as to how the fire was started.

“Police found plastic tubing, crushed Sudafed and unwrapped AA batteries on the counter top cover in a green latex mat,” Sergeant Gary Calico said.

The set up in the kitchen is consistent with a “one-pot set up” for a methamphetamine laboratory. The highly flammable byproducts of the lab are dangerous and are suspected to have caused the fire. As a result, NOPD arrested 24-year-old environmental studies senior Lamar Mixson after charging him with operating a clandestine methamphetamine lab. Mixson was released from jail after posting $5,000 dollar bond.

In addition to paying the bond for his release from jail, Mixson also had to pick up the tab for the damage done to the apartment building.

“The DEA clean up program has been shelved because of budget cuts in the department,” Calico said.

At the recommendation of the Department of Environmental Quality, Mixson paid for SWS Environmental Services to clean up the affected area. If left unattended, the toxic remnants of the methamphetamine could still be present in the walls of the building as well as any fabrics in the apartment.

Hasani Grayson can be reached at [email protected]. Santiago Caicedo can be reached at [email protected]