GROW-OP TEAM EXPANDS

In the last year, 155 children were found living in "hazardous
conditions" by Surrey firefighters working to shut down marijuana
grow operations in this city.

The revelation comes as Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis looks to expand
the city's Electrical and Fire Safety Inspection (ESFI) program,
which is designed to slam the door on grow ops and other homes deemed
electrically hazardous.

Under the year-old program, B.C. Hydro identifies homes using
extraordinary amounts of power, and firefighters and city crews
inspect the properties.

Of the 353 homes inspected in 56 weeks, 264 had the power cut by B.C.
Hydro because ESFI teams found the buildings were unsafe. Another 39
homeowners were given a week to correct electrical problems.

"It is also noted that in 80 of the houses that were inspected and
found to have significant electrical problems there were 155 children
living in hazardous conditions," Garis wrote in his report to council
Monday. He indicated firefighters contacted the B.C. Ministry of
Children and Family Development in each case where a child was involved.

An official with the ministry said Monday every one of those
instances was investigated.

She could not elaborate or indicate if any children were seized by
the ministry.

Garis, who devised the grow-op initiative years ago, said the program
is going better than he expected.

There is a "strong correlation" between excessive power use and the
presence of marijuana grow operations, Garis said.

"On this basis, grow-ops introduce an unacceptable risk to the
occupants of the buildings within which they are located, to the
immediate neighbourhood and to emergency responders through fire and
electrocution risk," Garis stated.

He will be adding six fire crews to the team in the next five weeks,
doubling the number of personnel devoted to the program.