TENANTS WON'T KNOW RISKS OF GROW OPS FOR WEEKS

Hundreds of residents of three apartment blocks won't know for a
month what risks they face from the chemicals, mould and electrical
hazards left behind after the largest marijuana grow-op bust in
Hamilton history.

The city yesterday ordered property managers Di Cenzo Management
Inc. to do an environmental assessment and report the results by
April 23. City inspectors will not go into the units and inspect the
buildings until the report and followup repairs have been
completed, said Marianne Brown, manager of building construction.

That's too long to wait, said Councillor Chad Collins. He plans to
bring the issue to council today. "Time is of the essence,
especially when it's health."

The city has the power to take action if the building is deemed
unsafe for residents, Brown said, adding "we would cross that bridge
when we came to it."

"We're fairly confident there is no significant impact," Brown said.
"Mould doesn't cross barriers such as walls."

All of the units were boarded up by yesterday afternoon.

Grow ops leave behind toxic mould, jury-rigged wiring, booby traps
and flammable chemicals, said Dave Clarke, a former police officer
who works for Mould Scene Inc., a remediation company.

"It can be life-threatening," he said.

There is no evidence of booby traps in any of the Hamilton buildings.

Other cities are much more aggressive with grow ops. Niagara Falls
has an inspector at a scene in 24 hours and has relocated residents,
said Jim Jessop, fire prevention officer.

"We don't know what we're dealing with and we're not prepared to
take risks with people's lives," he said.

When asked why Hamilton is not approaching the situation in the same
way, Robert Hall, the city's director of health protection, said the
risk is a matter of opinion.

There are no shared air ducts in the buildings which means mould and
chemicals won't spread, he said.