RENTED DRUG-LAB HOUSE MUST BE TORN DOWN

A Vancouver house is so contaminated with the chemicals used to make
illegal drugs the city has ordered it demolished.

Red phosphorus, the chemical used in roadside flares and matches, is also
used in the production of speed -- methamphetamine.

It is so volatile that just walking across it could start a fire. The
50-year-old stucco house in the 2500-block of East 22nd Ave. is under
24-hour fire watch.

The homeowners have until tomorrow to apply for a demolition permit and a
notice on the front door says demolition must then begin immediately.

Vancouver's top drug cop said he got a call from the fire department Friday
asking what he knew about red phosphorus.

"I told him to call out the provincial hazardous materials team," said
Insp. Kash Heed. "We call them in whenever we go into a clandestine drug
lab, the chemicals involved are so dangerous."

Heed said the person who first called the fire department was arrested with
"cocaine and some ecstasy in his possession."

At the man's apartment in the 100-block of West 12th, police found half a
kilo of cocaine, hashish and 3,000 tablets of ecstasy worth about $170,000.

Home owner Susan Tong said she was stunned to find out the city wants the
house torn down.

"Oh dear," said Tong,who owns the house with husband, Charles Mow. "We
didn't think it was such a big deal at first."

Charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking is Douglas
McMullin.