METHAMPHETAMINE PROBLEM GROWING IN RURAL AREAS

EXETER - Area firefighters heard a briefing Oct. 20 at the South Huron
fire hall about the growing problem of methamphetamine laboratories in
rural areas.

Methamphetamines are synthetic amphetamines or stimulants produced and
sold illegally in pill form, capsules, powder and chunks and can be
produced using many household items.

Detective Sargent Brad Durfy from the London Drug Enforcement
detachment described to firefighters the hazards they might face if
called to a fire at a building containing a meth lab.

The labs can be found virtually anywhere including apartments, storage
areas, campsites, vacant buildings and vehicles.

Durfy said one of the ingredients in making methamphetamine is
anhydrous ammonia, a liquid fertilizer which is stolen and then stored
in propane cylinders. The cylinders are not capable of containing the
anhydrous ammonia and the fittings quickly begin to erode, leading to
an explosion.

One of the signs of a propane cylinder close to exploding is fittings
that have turned bright blue.

Other hazards firefighters may face include boobytraps around meth
labs, a practice Durfy said is filtering up from the United States,
and users of the drug around the labs who can become violent.

Unlike earlier methods of producing methamphetamine which were more
difficult, expensive and time consuming, newer methods can produce a
batch of methamphetamine in as little as two hours.

Using production facilities no bigger than a pail, the labs can be
placed in vehicles and driven around while being 'cooked' creating an
extreme hazard on the road for other drivers.

Durfy said warning signs a methamphetamine lab may be operating in the
area are large purchases of ingredients such as sudafed and drain
cleaners, or thefts of these items.

He added it had been difficult to get courts to apply severe enough
sentences for those caught with the materials for making
methamphetamine.

But with testimony from drug enforcement officers describing the
dangers combining the ingredients creates, the court system is
starting to recognize the severity of the problem and is applying
longer terms for thefts of the materials.