GROW-OP TEAMS TO EXPAND

Firefighters Find Surrey Children Living In Dangerous Homes

In the last year, 155 children have been found living in "hazardous
conditions" and were reported to the province by Surrey firefighters.

The revelation comes as Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis looks to expand
the city's Electrical and Fire Safety Inspection (ESFI) program.

The program is designed to shut down marijuana grow operations, and
other homes deemed electrically hazardous.

Of the 353 homes inspected in just over a year, 264 had the power cut
by B.C. Hydro because ESFI team 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 if any children were seized by the ministry.

Garis, who devised the scheme years ago, said the program is going
better than he expected.

It's based on a simple principle, he said.

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.