FIREFIGHTERS FACE MORE DANGER THAN FLAMES

Firefighters have more to battle than just flames.

When responding to a residential fire, they could also be exposed to
hazardous -- or potentially lethal -- chemicals, electrical hazards
or other dangers associated with the manufacturing of illegal drugs
such as marijuana and crystal meth, said Brian Ladds, hazardous
materials officer with the Calgary Fire Department.

Firefighters can't know from simply looking at residence's exterior
whether there's a drug operation inside but they can at least be made
aware of the possibility and become educated about it, he said Saturday.

Ladds gave two presentations on clandestine drug lab response during
the Southern Alberta Fire Department Conference, held at the Lethbridge Lodge.

Most firefighters will come across a drug operation at some point in
their career, said Ladds.

"If there's a marijuana grow op, there's a substantial increase in
the possibility of having a fire," he said.

With the knowledge and awareness the firefighters have gained, they
can now go back to their own departments and make their colleagues
aware of the situation, said Ladds.

A number of firefighters have been killed in the United States, which
has been dealing with home drug-making operations longer than Canada
has, after responding to blazes where drugs were being manufactured,
said Ladds.

But home-made drug manufacturing is nothing new to Canada, he said.

Crystal meth batches can be highly unstable, sometimes even
explosive, and produce toxic waste.

While drug operations are sometimes considered an urban problem, they
are found in communities of every size, he said.