(RALEIGH) -- An explosion at a meth lab isn't just dangerous for the criminals who are mixing toxic chemicals, it's also a danger to law enforcement officers who respond to the scene.

Captain Alex Fish of the Johnston County Sheriff's Department says they never know what they'll find when they walk into such a volatile environment. "The unknown is what is so dangerous in the meth labs. When you go into a meth lab, you have no idea how volatile the chemicals that have been mixed are at that present time. They could already be under pressure, especially when you've already had an explosion," he said.

The DEA pays for the cleanup, which means taxpayers are footing the bill. Fish says it can cost $10,000 or more to clean up one site. It is suspected that a house in Raleigh that caught fire on Thursday was the site of a meth lab. The home's owner, Ralph Bradsher, has been charged with a felony count of maintaining a dwelling with a controlled substance.