LEARNING THE SIGNS OF DANGER

For explosives expert and firefighter David Pipher, even an innocuous
coffee tin can be turned into a deadly bomb in today's world of drug
grow houses and labs.

Police, fire and emergency workers rushing in to a grow house could be
killed or seriously injured by any number of planted bomb devices,
along with booby-trapped doors and appliances, Pipher told more than
160 Leeds and Grenville police, fire, emergency and other officials at
a clandestine drug lab awareness seminar Wednesday.

"It can happen in any community." Pipher said.

"But half the battle is knowing what you're walking into," Pipher
said, noting that grow houses and methamphetamine labs, first found in
the U.S., are becoming common throughout Canada.

Meth labs produce an amphetamine derivative created using chemicals
such as ether, ammonia and hydrochloric acid.

"Let's be realistic. People aren't being blown up everyday but these
devices are being found in Ontario," Pipher said, showing a rigged
coffee can filled with nails, hand-made pipe bombs and other explosive
devices such as grenades used to ward off drug thieves and
authorities.

"You don't want to move or touch anything unless you know what it is,"
he said, noting anti-open, anti-theft, anti-movement, photo sensitive
and radio-controlled devices have all been found.

Pipher and Canadian Emergency Planning Consultants colleague David
Clarke also showed graphic photos of inexperienced methamphetamine lab
operators who inadvertently exposed themselves to chemicals and died
literally coughing up parts of their lungs.

Other photos showed bloodied victims who had fingers and arms blown
off in booby-trapped grow houses.

"We need to re-think how we approach all calls," Pipher told
workers.

"We also need to start getting rid of the lines between the different
services," Clarke said.

Different departments can work together to battle the problem and,
with more awareness, fewer front-line workers will be hurt.

The seminar, co-ordinated by the Brockville Fire Department's fire
prevention office, is designed to show emergency personnel what to
look for, what smells to take as warning signs, and products that
point directly to the production of illegal drugs.

"You can have a methamphetamine lab virtually anywhere," said
Clarke.

"This training wasn't being provided (before). If they can recognize
some of these signs and symptoms we want them to get out of these
dangerous places," said Clarke, who works with Mississauga Fire and
Emergency Services.

"We're fortunate thus far nobody has been killed but it's just a
matter of time," he said. "We want to provide enough knowledge to keep
(workers) safe."

Brockville Fire Prevention Officer Randy Burke asked the CEPC group to
give a day-long and evening seminar because grow houses have been
uncovered in Leeds and Grenville within the past year.

"The timing was perfect to bring them in," Burke said.

"The Canadian mentality is it's an American problem but it's not any
more. It's becoming more prevalent in Canada," said Greg Healy, also a
Brockville fire prevention officer.

"You never know where it's going to happen. It could be your next-door
neighbour," Healy said.

Pipher said appropriate intelligence and surveillance is needed when
grow houses or labs are suspected. Officers should watch to see which
entrances are used for indoor operators. In some cases, doors have
been rigged to electrocute a person attempting entry. Light switches
have ignited light bulbs filled with gasoline. In one operation a
liquid chemical in a container rigged to a refrigerator's interior
exploded when the appliance was opened.

Often holes are left in the floors and stairways are removed, causing
hazards for firefighters entering the building during a fire.
Trip-lines are also found. In one outdoor operation near Tillsonburg a
shotgun was rigged to fire if anyone approached the marijuana plants.

"They've put together a really comprehensive package," said OPP
Sergeant Pete Donahoe, of the Eastern Ontario Tactics and Rescue
Explosives Disposal Unit, based in Odessa.

Jana Gillis, president of the Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention
Officers' Association, said the seminar will be included in an
association conference next month in Orangeville.

"We can unknowingly walk into these situations every day," Gillis
said. "If you're more aware of it you might take a better look at your
own community."