A preliminary hearing date was set Monday for a man arrested last Thursday night in conjunction with a methamphetamine lab explosion.

Kenneth S. Jenkins, 28, 14257 E. County Rd. 600N, was arrested on charges of two counts of drug-related child endangerment, possession of methamphetamine manufacturing chemicals and possession of a controlled substance.

He is currently being held on bond, with bail set at $10,000.

A secretary at the Coles County Circuit Clerk’s office said Jenkins appeared in court today, where he received a copy of his information.

“His preliminary bond hearing is set for 1 p.m. April 19,” she said.

Jenkins was arrested after police and fire departments were called to his home in response to a fire believed to be sparked by methamphethamine production.

A woman, a 4-year-old and a 10-year-old child were at the home at the time of the fire. Jenkins suffered minor burns, the woman was cut and the children suffered no injuries.

An article “The Festering Problem of Methamphetamine in Illinois” by Daniel Dighton in the Winter/Spring 2003 edition of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority’s The Compiler, called methamphetamine “the most dangerous and vexing problem for law enforcement in many rural areas, particularly in central and southern parts of the state.”

ECITF Master Sgt. Steve Guess said “Meth is huge here. We (investigate) a little coke and marijuana, but meth is our bailiwick.”

Prior to 1999, Guess said, only three labs were seized; but from 2001-2003, approximately 200 labs were seized and 118 meth labs were seized in 2003.