The results of an emergency dispatch Sunday in West Penn Township are chilling.

Local police were first to arrive at the scene after responding to a Schuylkill Communications Center call for a barn fire with possible entrapment.What they found, instead, was more than a fire.There was an erratic man hiding after allegedly setting a blaze at his house and barn.Police had to subdue the man and get the situation under control.The man, suffering from burns and deep wounds, admitted to police he was high on bath salts.His behavior supported that assertion.He reportedly began to crawl, and then run, and exhibit bizarre behavior as he attempted to flee.It took about 45 minutes for police, medical personnel and firefighters to bring the man under control.The scenario is frightening.Very little is known about bath salts and how the drug interacts with brain function.Some users develop symptoms akin to schizophrenia.An individual under the influence of bath salts is capable of any number of behaviors.Media accounts since 2010 have described how use of bath salts has resulted in hallucinations, paranoia, panic attacks and violent behavior.We live in a world where mind-altering drugs are prevalent and people's behavior cannot be predicted.What if the delusional man had been armed and waiting in ambush?The incident serves to remind us that emergency responders put their lives on the line every day.In this case, West Penn police, paramedics and firefighters deserve praise for handling the disruptive man and the fire as expeditiously as possible.The man remains in critical condition at a Lehigh Valley hospital. We hope he gets the help he needs.In the meantime, we're grateful for emergency responders trained to handle unexpected and unusual circumstances in an era when no dispatch is usual.We've come to expect the unexpected.It's good to know our responders are up to the challenge.By DONALD R. SERFASSdserfass@tnonline.com