KIDS IN GROW-OPS AT RISK

Police are worried that children living with a grow-op are risking
their health.

"There are huge hazards in places like that . . . and these are kids
that happen to live in this environment," said Vancouver police
Const. Howard Chow yesterday.

Investigators were concerned when they found evidence of children
living near major fire hazards and marijuana plants covered in
chemical pesticides, Chow said.

A grow-op was uncovered after a fire started in a downstairs
restaurant in the 2000-block Kingsway on Tuesday.

Police found children's clothing near about 1,000 marijuana plants, Chow said.

"Speaking to one of the Grow Busters [police program] members, he
said, 'All you had to do was shake one of the marijuana plants and it
comes out like a cloud of dust,'" he said.

Police are looking for the occupants of the apartment, who were not
found at the time of the fire.