DANGERS CROPPING UP

Grow-Op Fires A Growing Safety Issue For Firefighters

It's the kind of surprise no firefighter likes to receive. They race
to what they believe is a residential fire but instead discover
hundreds of marijuana plants, potentially deadly chemicals, often
dangerously rewired electricity and sometimes even booby traps to
protect the crop.

Twice in the past two weeks, Ottawa firefighters have been the first
to discover marijuana grow operations.

In the first case, there was no fire, only steam escaping from the
clandestine farming operation. In the second, a fire had been sparked
by the careless disposal of a cigarette.

In both cases, the potential was there for greater
hazards.

"The biggest problem with grow ops is the unknown," says HAZMAT
technician William Brigden, who has helped to train firefighters and
other first responders about the dangers of grow operations.

Brigden says the people running marijuana grows rarely go by the book
when it comes to powering and putting together their operations.

"Electricity is our main concern," says Brigden.

"When they bypass the hydro, that typically causes fires. They are
bypassing hydro or doing other things that aren't up to code."

FAULTY WIRING

In addition to the possibility of electrocution from hanging wires and
bypassed electricity, Ottawa police drug section Staff Sgt. Marc
Pinault says there are other, equally sinister dangers that can be
present in grow operations.

"If the house is booby-trapped, there is that danger," says Pinault,
adding that traps can include firearms rigged to shoot at intruders or
harmful acids left on doors.

While police haven't found any booby-trapped labs in Ottawa yet, they
have found explosive combinations of fertilizer and other chemicals
used in grow operations.

"There are usually a lot of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, so
there is the danger for toxic gases and explosions," says Pinault.

Last year, firefighters responded to four fires caused by grow
operations.

Brigden says more often than not, firefighters only discover the
nature of the operation after they have already begun fighting the
fire and ensured that no one is trapped inside the building.

Currently Ottawa firefighters have no formal procedure for dealing
with grow houses, instead approaching each fire on a case-by-case basis.

While not a big problem yet, Ottawa deputy fire chief Bruce Montone
says the fire department expects to see more grow-op fires in the
future and need to be prepared.

"It's not a chronic issue for us at this point, but we anticipate it,"
he says.

According to Ottawa police, 41 grow houses were found in the city last
year. In 2002, 52 grow houses were busted, up from 30 in 2001.

Pinault says police are planning more training sessions for Ottawa
firefighters and other first responders, including paramedics and
emergency-room doctors and nurses, later this year.