FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Sheriff’s deputies are investigating who set up a working meth lab inside a 4-bedroom home located in an upscale golf community near Fayetteville.

Cumberland County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Tanna said deputies were called to the Gates Four neighborhood Friday afternoon when a homeowner discovered the lab in a house at 7116 Holmfield Rd.

Authorities evacuated dozens of nearby homes as a strong chemical odor permeated the area. A hazmat team was called in to determine how best to break down the lab and remove it.

Tax records indicate the owner of the house, valued at about $450,000, lives out of state. It was not immediately clear if the home had been rented. A potent stimulant, methamphetamine can be cooked up from over-the-counter household products, often leaving behind a toxic mess.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)