FIREFIGHTERS TOLD HOW TO DEAL WITH METH

DURANT -- Agents from Durant's District Attorney's Drug Task Force visited
the Bryan County Fire Chief's Association meeting Tuesday in Calera, to
discuss the dangers and the proper way to deal with methamphetamine when it
is discovered during a fire.

Agents Chuck Carroll and Wayne Stanley spoke before the BCFCA Tuesday on
the facts about the dangers of methamphetamine and things to look for,
while fighting a structure fire, that would indicate a meth lab.

"I'm not saying that you might run into this situation sometime, you will
run into this situation. We just want you to be able to understand what you
are dealing with when you run into a lab," said Carroll.

Carroll said that when Oklahoma passed the law limiting the sale of
Suphedrine there was a 75 percent decrease in the number of meth labs, but
he said the number is steadily on the rise again. "What we are looking for
is for you to know what you are looking at so you can make us aware should
you come across any of this stuff. It might be someone we are already
looking at and then again you may bring our attention to someone we should
be watching that is operating below the radar," said Carroll.

Carroll supplied the audience with all the actions and reactions the user
will encounter, but stated there were also dangers with the meth cookers
themselves. "Most meth cookers will have a gun while cooking meth. I used
to say that nine out of 10 times a cooker will have a gun, but I have now
changed my mind. 10 out of 10 cookers will have a gun," said Carroll.

For nearly an hour fire chiefs and assistant fire chiefs were instructed on
what to look for and what they can do to make sure the Task Force is made
aware if any of the items described in the program are found.

Anyone wanting to contact the Drug Task Force should call 580-920-1040.