Pubdate: Sun, 20 Nov 2005
Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 The Lethbridge Herald
Contact:  http://www.mysouthernalberta.com/leth/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239
Author: Stephen Tipper

FIREFIGHTERS FACE MORE DANGER THAN FLAMES

Firefighters have more to battle than just flames.

When responding to a residential fire, they could also be exposed to 
hazardous -- or potentially lethal -- chemicals, electrical hazards 
or other dangers associated with the manufacturing of illegal drugs 
such as marijuana and crystal meth, said Brian Ladds, hazardous 
materials officer with the Calgary Fire Department.

Firefighters can't know from simply looking at residence's exterior 
whether there's a drug operation inside but they can at least be made 
aware of the possibility and become educated about it, he said Saturday.

Ladds gave two presentations on clandestine drug lab response during 
the Southern Alberta Fire Department Conference, held at the Lethbridge Lodge.

Most firefighters will come across a drug operation at some point in 
their career, said Ladds.

"If there's a marijuana grow op, there's a substantial increase in 
the possibility of having a fire," he said.

With the knowledge and awareness the firefighters have gained, they 
can now go back to their own departments and make their colleagues 
aware of the situation, said Ladds.

A number of firefighters have been killed in the United States, which 
has been dealing with home drug-making operations longer than Canada 
has, after responding to blazes where drugs were being manufactured, 
said Ladds.

But home-made drug manufacturing is nothing new to Canada, he said.

Crystal meth batches can be highly unstable, sometimes even 
explosive, and produce toxic waste.

While drug operations are sometimes considered an urban problem, they 
are found in communities of every size, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman