PHIL CAMPBELL — When Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the Phil Campbell residence Sunday night, they knew what was going on inside.

The unmistaken odor of an active methamphetamine lab could be smelled from outside.

Inside, however, they found something that left Sheriff Shannon Oliver searching for words to explain.

He said deputies found six children, ranging in ages from 1 to 7, inside the residence as the meth lab was operating.

“They exposed children, young children, to this,” Oliver said. “This is another example of how people on drugs don’t think about anything, not even their children.”

Oliver said two couples — each with three children — now face several drug-related charges.

Steven Wilson, 26, and his wife, Meagan Wilson, 25, of Double Springs, along with Adam Dummar, 33, and his wife, Angela Nicole Dummar, 26, of 195 Williams Road, Phil Campbell, are charged with trafficking methamphetamine, first-degree manufacturing a controlled substance (meth), unlawful possession of a controlled substance and chemical endangerment of a child.

Oliver said deputies went to the residence on Williams Road after receiving a tip about the possibility of an active meth lab.

“Deputies got there, smelled the odor and called one of our drug officers,” Oliver said. ”After he got there, they got permission to search the house and found the active lab.”

Authorities said a “one-pot” lab was found in a crawl space in the basement of the house.

“It was directly under the baby’s bedroom,” Oliver said. “If our officers could smell the odor outside, can you image how much of these toxic fumes the kids had to be breathing in?

“It’s sad the kids are put in these kinds of situations by parents who are supposed to be taking care of them.”

Authorities said the children are in the custody of family members.

Investigators said the Dummars and Steve Wilson were out of jail after posting bail related to similar charges.

All four are being held in the Franklin County Jail without bail.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.