HAIL TO THE NEW FIRE MARSHAL

It's no secret that marijuana grow operations and drug labs are fire
hazards, in some cases literally blazes waiting to ignite.

A serious fire risk as a result of the chemicals, heat lamps and
elaborate hydro bypass schemes involved, grow ops also pose a health
and safety risk to neighbours and the enforcement officials who enter
them.

It's for these reasons, and others of course, that Pat Burke is the
perfect choice as Ontario's new Fire Marshal, a job he started yesterday.

Since coming to Niagara in 2002, the former fire chief at the Niagara
Falls fire department (NFFD) has developed a reputation of helping
Niagara Regional Police (NRP) tear down marijuana grow ops through his
aggressive approach to fire prevention.

"All we're interested in is the correction and prosecution of blatant
fire code violations," said Burke, who served with the Windsor fire
department for 34 years before becoming chief in the Falls.

Since adopting a "zero tolerance" approach to fire safety several
years ago, Burke told Canadian Press over the weekend, the NFFD has
levied some $1.5 million in fines under the Fire Prevention and
Protection Act. And that's in addition to any Criminal Code charges
laid by police.

While not all the fines pertain to grow ops or clandestine drug labs,
Niagara Falls firefighters have helped dismantle more than 100 such
operations in the last 2 1/2 years.

That's incredible. But Burke insists he's not a crime buster; he's
only trying to do everything in his power to prevent fires.

"It wouldn't matter to me if they were growing marijuana or tomatoes.
If they bypass hydro and they're not complying with all of the
requirements of the (fire) code, then we're going to act," he says.

And since the Act was amended last year to specifically target
marijuana grow houses, the penalties have doubled.

Individuals can now face fines of up to $50,000, a year in jail, or
both, while corporations could be on the hook for $100,000.

Thanks to Burke, Niagara Falls has become an authority on the subject
of dismantling grow ops and prosecuting offenders under fire
legislation.

In fact, the city hosted a nation-wide seminar on marijuana grow
operations, and local fire-prevention officers are often called upon
to educate justices of the peace and prosecutors on the matter.

Now Burke will take his expertise to the provincial
level.

As Ontario Fire Marshal, Burke will be required to work with municipal
fire departments across the province on matters of public education,
fire prevention and protection, and firefighter training and
investigation. He will also advise the province on standards and
legislation related to fire prevention and protection and make
recommendations to improve safety.

The Fire Marshal's Office is in good hands, indeed.