CRYSTAL METH CHEMICALS MOVED WITHOUT EVACUATION

People living near the scene of two chemical dump sites in Surrey were
allowed to remain in their homes Friday after tests Thursday showed an
evacuation would not be necessary.

"There was no risk to the residents," Deputy Surrey Fire Chief John
Caviglia said.

Caviglia said the testing found red phosphorus, acid and solvents of
the type used to produce crystal meth.

Local authorities had warned there might have to be an evacuation of
about 200 houses and more than 2,000 students in five schools after
the two dump sites were discovered Tuesday at the northwest corner of
182 Street and 70 Avenue and the 7300 block of 194 Street.

The evacuation alert was rescinded late Thursday after a review
determined risk was minimal.

Still, some residents were being advised to keep their car and home
windows rolled up as a precaution the morning of the clean-up as
white-suited hazardous materials experts loaded leaky barrels, buckets
and garbage bags into special containers for disposal.

A frustrated Cindy Bernardin, who lives in the 7400 block of 194
Street, said it was the second time her neighbourhood has been
disrupted by a serious meth-related chemical spill in less than a year.

She was evacuated from her own home 10 months ago, after solvents
started leaking into a nearby ditch during a heavy rainfall.

"I like to sleep with my windows open," she recalled.

"I was smelling something like oil paint or paint thinner when my
daughter told me she could see a chemical slick in the ditch."

Bernardin stayed overnight with her mother-in-law in
Vancouver.

A Haz-mat expert told her the chemicals might have been dumped after
being used to make methamphetamine.

There was another scare about a month later, but the seepage was not
as severe and no evacuation was needed, she said.

Neighbour Delney Paterson said criminals appear to be taking advantage
of the semi-rural environment to dispose of unwanted waste.

"People have been dumping here for ages," Paterson said.