Raleigh, N.C. — Authorities said Friday the manufacture of methamphetamine sparked an explosion that rocked a north Raleigh home the night before.
The two-story house at 2708 Pidgeon Hill Road, off Ray Road, caught fire after the explosion on the second floor about 9:30 p.m.
After putting out the fire, crews discovered hazardous materials on the second floor and pulled out of the house.
The homeowner, who was in the dwelling at the time of the incident, was arrested. Ralph Edward Bradsher, 48, was charged with a felony count of maintaining a dwelling with a controlled substance, according to the Wake County jail. He was held on a $25,000 secured bond.
Emergency crews decontaminated Bradsher immediately after the explosion, and he was seen lying on his front lawn.
There were no injuries reported and adjacent homes were not damaged, authorities said.
Bradsher faces up to 24 months in prison on the charge, and he is due in court against Aug. 29 on a previously scheduled probation violation.
Multiple agencies were called to the scene, including the State Bureau of Investigation. Authorities worked through the night and into Friday morning to investigate the cause of the explosion.
SBI agents spent the morning documenting the chemicals found in the house. They said a number of chemicals used in making methamphetamine were recovered. Cans of kerosene or cooking fuel could be seen in front of the home.
Raleigh police, which was among the first responders, on Friday released a recording of the 911 call made by a neighbor shortly before 9 p.m.
"It's the second time today there's been a loud, strong boom that shook my house," the person told the call-taker. The recording was redacted and altered to disguise the caller's voice, as required by state law.
Methamphetamine is a controlled substance with limited medical use, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It increases feelings of pleasure in the brain, and chronic use can lead to impaired function.
A majority of meth is created in foreign and domestic labs using components found in cold medicine, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. The chemical process to "cook" it can be highly unstable, sparking explosions.
According to a 2009 national survey, more than 12 million Americans ages 12 or older reported using meth at least once in their lifetime.



![[READ STORY]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/news/national_world/national/2013/05/14/12445890/12446751-1368816960-100x75.jpg)
![[VIEW PAGE]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/news/local/2013/05/13/12441232/hahn-100x75.jpg)
![[READ STORY]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/business/2013/05/06/12417151/2457a21a00d94324b6fc448c8ec173d0-Photo-1-100x70.jpg)
![[GALLERY]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/2013/03/28/12278304/LNL-100x75.jpg)
![[VIEW PAGE]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/traffic/2009/07/23/5645694/beltline-100x75.jpg)
![[GALLERY]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/2013/03/04/12182235/12182236-1362457268-100x75.jpg)


WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.
This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
August 15, 2012 3:55 p.m.
25K bond means he is out on 2500.00. He blew up his house and put many folks in danger. Toss him in the pokey and throw away the key.
August 14, 2012 10:16 a.m.
August 13, 2012 1:34 p.m.
Alcatraz isn't being used ;) Would be a good use for it, but I'd save it for murderers first....
August 10, 2012 6:22 p.m.
You are so far off base it is shameful.
The "natural" material found in sassafras is a material known as safrole. Safrole is a necessary starting precursor for the synthesis of MDMA. The synthetic hallucinogenic drug MDMA does have a structure somewhat related to safrole and somewhat related to methamphetamine, but that's where ANY similarity to those two separate drugs ends.
You can consume a couple railroad cars of sassafras bark and never consume any MDMA, aka "ecstasy." For you to repeatedly state MDMA is a natural drug and apparently somehow OK to consume does shows a certain lack of knowledge (or perhaps naiveté) on the overall subject.
BTW: You never did mention if you have a valid Schedule I DEA license to even possess MDMA in your business.
FE
August 10, 2012 6:00 p.m.