ESQUIMALT PITCHES METH RESPONSE FORUM

ESQUIMALT Esquimalt's deputy fire chief wants area emergency crews to get a
better understanding of the dangers of crystal methamphetamine.

It's not the use of meth that bothers Deputy Chief Paul Nelson, but the
dangers posed by labs creating the addictive and readily available drug.

The basic ingredients for creating crystal meth are commonly available, but
the creation process (called "cooking" in drug circles) results in several
toxic and potentially explosive by-products.

"We'll never know if we're responding to a meth lab until we're there or
the police are there dealing with a domestic dispute," Nelson said, as he
pitched his idea to civic leaders Monday.

The risks of meth labs - potential explosion and exposure to toxic
substances - remains a topic of concern among local firefighters, ambulance
attendants and police, he said.

He also noted the potential risk to city workers, citing a case in Port
Coquitlam where town employees fell ill while trying to clean up a tarry
substance found in the sewer system.

Police soon helped identify the substance as a toxic by-product of meth
production and traced the material to a concealed lab. Meth creation
results in anywhere from five to 10 kilograms of toxic waste for every
kilogram of drug produced.

Because of the meth epidemic, many jurisdictions in the United States
implemented special programs for emergency personnel. Given that, Nelson
wants to bring in U.S. experts to speak at a local conference, hosted by
Esquimalt.

"I'd like to, in this presentation, take a look at the Canadian perspective
and the American perspective," he said. "Canada's always a couple of steps
back dealing with environments with drugs."

Nelson first pitched his idea to Esquimalt councillors to gauge the
possibility for financial support.

Council gave assent to explore the idea, which will give Nelson permission
to consult with first responders throughout the Capital Region and the
province.

Mayor Darwin Robinson suggested that the town might be able to find the
money required to host the conference in its 2006 budget.

"We don't normally enter into ideas like this," Robinson said, but he
indicated the potential for the town to host some kind of conference,
citing the potential harms resulting from meth labs as a "hazardous
material issue."