Pubdate: Wed, 24 Aug 2005
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2005 The StarPhoenix
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Jamie Komarnicki
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH LAB SCARE AT HOSTEL

Alarm Raised After Suspicious Materials Discovered By Salvation Army Staff

Thirty-one people waited several tense hours Tuesday before they were 
allowed out of the Salvation Army Community Centre in Riversdale after a 
report of hazardous chemicals police and fire officials say could be part 
of a meth lab.

Saskatoon police received a call at about 3 p.m. from a staff member who 
was cleaning a room and came across suspicious materials, spokesperson 
Alyson Edwards told reporters outside the 19th Street and Avenue C location.

"There are enough suspicious articles in this room to believe it could be a 
meth lab and therefore all of the proper precautions need to be taken."

Edwards said the situation could potentially be "extremely dangerous.

"When you are talking about a meth lab, you're talking about very, very 
explosive chemicals that are used to create these."

Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services' hazardous materials unit was 
called, and the 31 residents and staff were "kept in the building for their 
own safety and that of the personnel," she said.

Edwards said police believe at least a few people had been in possible 
contact with the chemicals.

Police won't know for sure if the materials are those used in meth labs 
until a decontamination process which was underway late Tuesday night is 
complete. After the building is evacuated, a police clandestine lab team 
was to do a sweep of the building, Edwards said.

People waiting inside the Salvation Army building peered from side windows 
as onlookers outside stood in clusters, talking and taking pictures, some 
climbing to the roofs of nearby buildings for a better view.

After several hours of waiting, one man bolted from the building on his 
bicycle before he was chased down by a police officer and brought back in 
handcuffs.

"How do I feel? A little pissed off," he told reporters as he was led to 
the decontamination area.

The Saskatoon police robot entered the building to test the air quality 
before people were allowed to leave.

The first occupant was let out at about 6:30 p.m., brushing his hair with 
his hands as he was led through a pylon-marked path to the decontamination 
centre, which was set up in an adjacent parking lot. He stood under a 
shower, was then led into a small rubber pool, where he was hosed off by a 
hazardous material unit member wearing a white protective suit, before 
entering a waiting decontamination trailer.

According to fire department acting battalion Chief Glenn Cody, the process 
involves each occupant being washed with clothes on before entering the 
trailer, where their clothing and personal effects are bagged and they 
scrub themselves down. The procedure takes between five and seven minutes 
per person.

Cody said it was the largest decontamination effort he's seen.

Police blocked off large portions of the streets between avenues B and D 
and 19th and 20th streets, and were urging people to stay upwind of the 
Salvation Army building.

Don Bartlett, 41, was walking from work to the Salvation Army where he's 
been staying for the past two weeks when he was met at the door by a police 
officer.

"He said, 'Are you going in?' I said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'You can't.' "

Although several of his personal effects were inside, Bartlett said he was 
only worried for those trapped inside.

"We don't know what's going on, they've got them quarantined. I imagine 
that's scary for them," Bartlett said.

He said he was amazed with the speed and organization of emergency responders.

"I think it's awesome to see them do it."

Salvation Army spokesperson Capt. Bruce Mac Kenzie said this is the first 
time he's heard about something like this happening at one of their locations.

"My first thought is, 'Wow,' and my second thought is, 'I hope everyone is 
OK,' " he said.

"How did this happen? Obviously there will be certain questions that have 
to be asked," he said. "We've never had to deal with this kind of situation 
before."

The building is both a short-term and long-term hostel, Mac Kenzie said. 
People trapped inside were led to a waiting bus after undergoing the 
decontamination process and given a hot meal before being taken to a local 
hotel overnight Tuesday, he said.

The Salvation Army employs one full-time security person, Mac Kenzie said.

"As far as the security program, it depends on why they're staying there. 
It goes from virtually no security checkpoint other than the registration 
process to random drug tests and breathalysers."

He said the Salvation Army tries to balance both compassion and justice in 
ensuring the safety of the people who come to it for help.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom