Pubdate: Tue, 09 Aug 2011 Source: Maple Ridge Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc Contact: http://www.mrtimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1372 Author: Roxanne Hooper, The Times METH LAB GOES UP IN SMOKE Port Haney Residents Were Rocked by the Discovery of a Synthetic Drug Operation in Their Neighbourhood This Weekend It took a hazmat team, Mounties, firefighters, and members of an integrated clandestine police squad almost a full day to clean up after a meth lab exploded in downtown Maple Ridge Saturday night. It started at about 10: 30 p.m. The emergency call came in as a possible structure fire in the 11600 block of 224th Street, but it turned out to be something much more dangerous. When firefighters arrived, smoke was seen billowing out of the house. The tenant was found outside and overheard by neighbours telling fire officials his hot water tank blew. RCMP Staff Sgt. Hector Lee confirmed that the occupant tried to "shoo away" fire crews. "There was a male apparently at the house and he took off pretty quickly after he found out the fire department was going to go in the house," Lee told The TIMES. Fire crews moved in and quickly quashed the fire. But it soon became apparent to witnesses it was more than a simple fire as more police cruisers, fire trucks, ambulances, and emergency vehicles rolled up. "They thought it was a synthetic drug lab, but they weren't sure," Lee said. There was an odour initially reported, which Lee said dissipated quickly. But police weren't taking any chances, and called in the clandestine lab professionals from RCMP E Division to assess the situation. Because the odour disappeared rapidly, Lee said no evacuation orders were given. But he added that officers remained prepared for such steps if the danger level changed. It did not, and most of the police presence disbanded around 5 p.m. Sunday afternoon, leaving on scene only the hazmat workers, a clandestine unit supervisor, and police limiting vehicle and pedestrian traffic to finish the clean up. One neighbour, fearful to be identified, said she climbed up on a chair to see over the one property that separated her from the house in question when the fire was in progress. "I was thinking, this is pretty cool," but as more of what she thought to be steam from an extinguished fire filled the courtyard of her 224th Street apartment complex, she began to get a headache. She soon heard from others gathering to find out about the commotion that it was a possible meth lab. Her fear grew. "I can't believe no one was telling us go inside and don't inhale the fumes," she said. Bill Turner, manager of Maple Inn, lives across the street and has seen police at that house repeatedly over his 10 years in the neighbourhood. Not much shocks him anymore. A few years ago, he worked with the District's bylaw department and RCMP to remove 27 homeless people who had taken up residence in that once empty building. Turner also recalled police raiding at least three marijuana grow operations in that same house since he took over responsibility for the adjacent 31-unit apartment complex across the street, and hoped this recent police raid might finally force police, mayor, and council to join with the neighbours who want to clean up Port Haney. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.