FIRE AT THE POT FARM? LET IT BURN!

Local drug dealers running grow ops in their homes may need to start
thinking about investing in a good overhead sprinkler system. They may not
be able to get help as fast as they want now from the fire department.

Last Monday City Council approved a new set of operation guidelines for the
fire department.

The guidelines detail what fire fighters can do if they discover or suspect
that a building contains either a marijuana grow operation or an illegal
drug lab.

If there is no one in the building in need of rescue then fire fighters can
chose to wait until the RCMP have given clearance to enter the premises.
Until that clearance is given fire fighters would remain outside but carry
on normal fire fighting duties.

The department would call B.C. Hydro to shut off power to the building if a
drug lab or grow operation is found inside during a fire call.

The aim of the new guidelines is to ensure the safety of fire fighters
where a call may involve a suspected drug operation. They could find
themselves facing an armed suspect, booby traps, toxic chemical fumes or
marijuana smoke.