METH COOKS ENDANGER RESPONDERS

The practices of meth cookers can result in explosions and fires that
injure and kill not only the cookers, but also responding law
enforcement officers and firefighters.

"Exposure to the potent chemicals used in the making of meth can enter
the central nervous system by touching or breathing and cause neural
damage, affect kidneys, and burn or irritate the skin, eyes and nose,"
said an agent of the Marshall County Drug Enforcement Unit (MCDEU)

Boaz Firefighter/Basic EMT Jason Bouldin, while relating his
experience at the fire and explosion on Bethsaida Road in February,
said he was astonished to see "a death so gruesome over something so
stupid."

The incident left one man dead and Robert "Bee Bop" Watson burned, in
what law enforcement officials believe was a meth lab explosion. More
importantly was the effect it had on Bouldin.

The 1992 Boaz High School graduate entered the fire fighting service
with the youthful idealism of serving his community by fighting fires
and perhaps saving a life in the process.

Bethsaida Road changed all that.

Sitting with Bouldin inside the fire station, on the corner of Brown
Street and Mann Avenue, was long time friend, BHS classmate and fellow
firefighter, Lt. Jason Smith.

The veteran duo, with combined fire fighting experience of 21 years,
shared many of the same sentiments about the effects methamphetamine
has brought to their chosen profession and their personal lives.

"Our hard work and training is endangered because some individuals in
our community cannot restrain their emotions," referring to those who
use and/or manufacture methamphetamine.

Knowing the inherent dangers associated with being a firefighter, they
were not prepared for "people who are ready to shoot you," said Smith.

Training classes given by members of the MCDEU have better prepared
them for encountering the protective "booby traps" often associated
with the illicit meth labs.

Smith, a husband and father of two, also, spoke for Bouldin, married
and father of one child, when he said, "We're normal guys who work and
pay our bills. We knew the dangers, but to possibly lose your life
because of people so stupid as to use methamphetamine is frustrating.
I want to go home and see my wife and kids at the end of my shift."

Methamphetamine even affects Bouldin's parents whom he says, "Are
drawn up in knots worrying about it."

Bouldin expressed concern about the possibility of his, accidentally,
bringing home some of the residual effects of a meth chemical fire and
"contaminating my wife and daughter."

While she doesn't grasp the enormity of the drug's threat, his
"six-year old daughter knows drugs are bad for you."

Both have had members of their families caught up in meth's
web.

"Patient care is our number one goal," said Smith. "We have gone
through training on to how to handle any call we run up on were meth
use is suspected. We have a chain of command that is followed. It
becomes a whole new ball game when meth is involved. If your inside
and a meth lab explodes-it changes from a fire call to a hazardous
materials call because of the possibility of contamination.

"If that fire over there (Bethsaida Road) had been an ordinary
structure fire, in its own right it was dangerous enough, but you add
all those chemicals on top of that-it makes our job just that more
dangerous.

And when a child or children or added to the equation on a call these
fathers said, "It makes an already tough job that much harder. It
makes it kind of personal."

While it can become emotional, both agreed, "You still have to perform
as a professional and not let your emotions influence your level of
patient care."

Brother firefighter and 16-year veteran paramedic, Lt. Bill Casey of
Albertville's FD said, "You are always thinking about it in the back
of your mind (methamphetamine's influence), especially when you answer
a call to a vehicle or house fire and you have an explosion. It has
made us more cautious-a lot more cautious now, said,

A recent call turned ugly as a patient exhibiting one of the symptoms
associated with meth use became combative.

Casey said, "We stood back and let four (Albertville) police officers,
who showed up within three-minutes, deal with the subject."

"It seems like every time you turn around your hearing about
somebody...one of your friends from high school or a person you never
dreamed of...was using or cooking," Smith said.