METH LAB GOES UP IN SMOKE

Port Haney Residents Were Rocked by the Discovery of a Synthetic Drug
Operation in Their Neighbourhood This Weekend

It took a hazmat team, Mounties, firefighters, and members of an
integrated clandestine police squad almost a full day to clean up
after a meth lab exploded in downtown Maple Ridge Saturday night.

It started at about 10: 30 p.m. The emergency call came in as a
possible structure fire in the 11600 block of 224th Street, but it
turned out to be something much more dangerous.

When firefighters arrived, smoke was seen billowing out of the house.
The tenant was found outside and overheard by neighbours telling fire
officials his hot water tank blew.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Hector Lee confirmed that the occupant tried to "shoo
away" fire crews.

"There was a male apparently at the house and he took off pretty
quickly after he found out the fire department was going to go in the
house," Lee told The TIMES.

Fire crews moved in and quickly quashed the fire. But it soon became
apparent to witnesses it was more than a simple fire as more police
cruisers, fire trucks, ambulances, and emergency vehicles rolled up.

"They thought it was a synthetic drug lab, but they weren't sure," Lee
said.

There was an odour initially reported, which Lee said dissipated
quickly. But police weren't taking any chances, and called in the
clandestine lab professionals from RCMP E Division to assess the situation.

Because the odour disappeared rapidly, Lee said no evacuation orders
were given. But he added that officers remained prepared for such
steps if the danger level changed.

It did not, and most of the police presence disbanded around 5 p.m.
Sunday afternoon, leaving on scene only the hazmat workers, a
clandestine unit supervisor, and police limiting vehicle and
pedestrian traffic to finish the clean up.

One neighbour, fearful to be identified, said she climbed up on a
chair to see over the one property that separated her from the house
in question when the fire was in progress.

"I was thinking, this is pretty cool," but as more of what she thought
to be steam from an extinguished fire filled the courtyard of her
224th Street apartment complex, she began to get a headache. She soon
heard from others gathering to find out about the commotion that it
was a possible meth lab. Her fear grew.

"I can't believe no one was telling us go inside and don't inhale the
fumes," she said.

Bill Turner, manager of Maple Inn, lives across the street and has
seen police at that house repeatedly over his 10 years in the
neighbourhood. Not much shocks him anymore.

A few years ago, he worked with the District's bylaw department and
RCMP to remove 27 homeless people who had taken up residence in that
once empty building.

Turner also recalled police raiding at least three marijuana grow
operations in that same house since he took over responsibility for
the adjacent 31-unit apartment complex across the street, and hoped
this recent police raid might finally force police, mayor, and council
to join with the neighbours who want to clean up Port Haney.