Pubdate: Tue, 01 Jan 2013
Source: Maple Ridge Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc
Contact:  http://www.mrtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1372
Author: Roxanne Hooper

MEDICAL MARIJUANA OPERATION BURNS

An early morning blaze in rural Pitt Meadows Sunday speaks to the need
for stronger growing regulations, the fire chief insists.

Two days before Christmas, Pitt Meadows was hit by an early morning
barn fire connected to the growing of legal medical marijuana.

Exactly one week earlier, the federal government was in Maple Ridge,
at the main firehall, announcing proposed changes to how and where
medical marijuana would be grown and sold, citing dangers to
neighbours and emergency responders as the lead contributors to the
10-year-old regulations.

While Pitt Meadows fire chief Don Jolley welcomed the suggested
changes, he said even more is needed and this weekend's fire speaks to
that.

The call came in to 9-1-1 at about 2:30 on Sunday morning, Dec. 23,
from a passerby reporting a barn on McDonald Road was fully involved
in flames.

"Either it was burning for a long time before it was discovered, or it
was a case of unnatural acceleration caused by something in the
building_" Jolley said.

"It's obviously suspicious in nature."

The barn was completely surrounded by a high chain link and barbed
wire fence with Health Canada warning signs posted, Jolley explained,
noting he and his team were never made aware of its existence prior to
the fire.

"This is apparently standard practice, but we consider it unacceptable
due the hazards and safety concerns to firefighters and others,"
Jolley said, noting a man, the lone occupant of the house, was
questioned and removed by RCMP.

"Severe hazards to firefighters were present as the fire was heavily
involved on our arrival and the fire was impinging on two 250-pound
propane tanks situated right beside the barn," he recounted.

The danger didn't end there. The overhead powerlines were arching and
burning and then fell "almost directly onto the propane tanks
resulting in a highly dangerous situation where the arching lines
could have grounded on the tanks," said the chief.

Following protocol, upon learning it was a medical pot growing
operation and there were enhanced dangers, firefighters were kept well
away from the structure.

"Initially fire crews simply established a heavy master water stream
applied over the propane tanks to cool them," keeping their distance
until hydro could disconnect the power about half an hour after the
fire crew arrived.

"Once this was done we surrounded the structure with hose lines and
poured water onto it to complete extinguishment," Jolley said.

"Neighbours reported they were not unhappy to see it burn down as they
have felt unsafe ever since it arrived. They reported numerous
incidents at the property in the past and some reported that they
feared for their children's safety any time they were outside in the
nearby areas."

Firefighters and police remained on scene until almost 9 a.m. Sunday
morning, and according to Jolley the investigation is ongoing.

"The fire department feels that these 'businesses' should be treated
the same as any other and subject to full building and fire inspection
procedures by the City. While the government of Canada has recently
announced new procedures that they hope to establish for these type of
operations, there is still a very real concern from our department
that there needs to be greater regulatory oversight and much greater
enforcement of safety, utility, and mechanical work," he said.

"Additionally, local governments and their public safety, building and
development departments must be notified of these operations at the
concept stage and be fully involved in their inclusion into the
community. Simply designating them to rural areas will not solve the
problems as we have just seen with this fire and public and
firefighter safety will still be at significant risk until much
greater measures are implemented to improve safety and security for
these 'legal' operations." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D