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Brian Scott Gingrich, 57, of 207 East Cumberland Street fled from his home as "components...to manufacture the drug (methamphetamine) within the apartment" exploded, city police say.
He "was not on scene at (the) arrival of the fire department," police state in the release.
A fireman was chemically burned, but it was reportedly minor and he was not hospitalized.
But Gingrich was found hiding under a boat and "it was immediately apparent Gingrich was injured as a result of the chemical explosion," and had serious burns according to the release.
He was taken to a local medical facility and then transferred to another medical facility specializing in burn injuries.
"Charges are pending Gingrich’s recovery and completion of the investigation," police say.
He was running a small meth lab within his single apartment inside the building, police allege.
Clandestine Laboratory Response Team respond to the scene to mitigate any chemicals and render the area safe for occupancy.
No other occupants of the building were injured during this event, and the American Red Cross assisted displaced residents until the building was reoccupied.
Lebanon City police, the Lebanon County Drug Task Force, and Pennsylvania state police continue to investigate this explosion.
Gingrich has a lengthy court record mainly for drug charges and served 125 days in the Lebanon County Prison as part of a negotiated plea deal for drug offenses in 2015, court records show.
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