FIRE MARSHAL WARNS ABOUT METH LABS

Arson Awareness Week Wraps In North Fort Myers

If a methamphetamine lab is uncovered in Lee County, the State Fire
Marshal would be among the first to approach the potentially explosive site.

Fire Marshal officials told passing residents about the state's
growing threat of meth labs Friday at Merchants Crossing in North
Fort Myers. The free event coincided with the State Fire Marshal's
Arson Awareness week, which ends today.

Chemicals used to make meth, a highly addictive drug made from
over-the-counter medications, are toxic and flammable. Many people
who cook up meth booby-trap their clandestine labs.

Meth labs have been documented in 28 of Florida's 67 counties, Fire
Marshal officials said. Florida ranked 18th in meth lab seizures in 2004.

"Fortunately, we haven't had the major problems with meth labs that
other areas have," said Fire Marshal Detective Lisa Brower. "But we
have to be aware of it."

Gary Hopkins, 47, who lives in north Cape Coral, was among residents
who stopped by the Fire Marshal display. He wasn't aware of the
dangerous fires these labs can cause.

"It scares you, especially if you don't know about them," Hopkins
said. "I'm glad I don't have close neighbors."

The display featured a 700-pound "Wolverine" robot from the bomb
squad equipped with four cameras. The machine that resembles a
minitank could be used to inspect a meth lab before people are sent
inside, Fire Marshal Detective Scott Bialy said.

"It has the ability to go into a meth lab with chemical monitors," Bialy said.

Nicoli Damienovitch, 18, of Cape Coral chatted with Fire Marshal
officials about the problems.

He said he would never experiment with meth. He said he's seen people
who are high on the drug twitch while they talked to him.

"It's like a whole other level of drug," Damienovitch said. "I think
it's hilarious that people are making it in their basement. There's
too much risk of getting a dirty batch."

The North Fort Myers Fire District has fire investigators trained to
detect signs of meth activity when responding to blazes.

Capt. Derrill Alvarez said it's only a matter of time until Southwest
Florida begins to see meth labs.

"As more people realize they can make on their own, we're probably
going to see an increase in it," Alvarez said.

- -- A state brochure on meth awareness and the dangers of meth labs is
available at www.fldfs.com/fightmeth.