Police: Man no longer suspect in hotel explosion

WARSAW, Ind. (WANE) - UPDATE: Warsaw police have found James Kern, who they believed was connected to the meth lab explosion inside of a Days Inn hotel Saturday.

Police said Kern does not have any injuries and they now believe he was not even at the Days Inn when the explosion occurred.

Officers said after additional investigation, they found a bystander who was injured after the explosion when he entered the room with a fire extinguisher.

Police said the bystander suffered smoke inhalation and was treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital and then released.

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One person was hurt and police are looking for another after a meth lab exploded inside a Warsaw hotel.

Around 5:52 p.m. Saturday, Warsaw Wayne Fire Territory and Warsaw City Police were called to the Days Inn at 2575 E. Center Street on a report of smoke coming from a second story room.

When crews arrived they found a fire in the bathroom of room 218. Investigators said the fire was the result of an explosion. The bathroom door was blown off its hinges and the ceiling in room 218 and the adjoining room had fallen down.

No one was found in the hotel room at the time. But, a reported injured person was seen running near the Marketplace shopping center in Warsaw. That's where police found Paul Luna, 36, of Ligonier with his shoes and pants still smoldering. He had severe burns on his arms and head. Samaritan flew Luna to the burn unit at Saint Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Luna told emergency responders that another person was in the hotel room with him during the explosion. Police are now looking for James Kern, 22, of Cromwell. It's believed he was hurt in the explosion and could need medical attention.

Anyone with any information about where Kern is should call Warsaw police at (574) 372-9511.

Police think a one-pot method meth lab caused the explosion. The investigation into the exact cause is still underway.

The Days Inn was evacuated when the fire was first reported, but all guests since have been allowed back into their rooms. Four rooms are still closed off and quarantined because of the explosion and fire and water damage. The Indiana State Police Meth clean-up team is on site.