Pubdate: Fri, 09 Dec 2005 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Bill Cleverley, Victoria Times Colonist Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/grow+operations SURREY POT-BUSTING PROJECT WINS AWARD Project Involves Fire Department Filing FOI Requests For Hydro Bills Of Suspicious Addresses SURREY - A pilot project in Surrey to weed out and dismantle marijuana-growing operations is being recognized with a Lieutenant-Governor's Award for Public Safety. The program, known as the electrical fire and safety investigative initiative, came about as the municipality saw so many growing operations being established that police couldn't keep up with the number of tips, Fire Chief Len Garis said in a phone interview Thursday. "It was becoming a very prevalent problem in terms of the number of fires that were occurring by way of marijuana grow operations -- almost nine per cent in 2004 of all of our structure fires," said Garis, who is receiving the award today with Darryl Plecas, of University College of the Fraser Valley. A provincial task force was struck and the Surrey project began in March. Under the initiative, the fire department files freedom-of-information requests for hydro bills of suspected growing-operation addresses. Once the information is obtained, officials knock on the door of the address with an order for an electrical inspection. If no one is home, a notice is left informing the resident of a pending inspection. Electrical systems are compromised in 94 per cent of the cases, Garis said. Growing operations are notorious for electrical wiring carrying heavy loads, moisture problems in homes, and power being diverted from meters. While not all of the compromised systems found in Surrey are due to growing operations, the majority have been, Garis said. "We've found, in some areas, secondary suites where they've had four ranges or stoves plugged into the system, which is not safe either." The team has been in operation for 26 weeks and has disconnected 145 locations where the power systems were compromised. Twenty-five locations have received notices ordering repair. Garis said the object of the project is strictly public and firefighter safety. He said he would like to see provincial legislation easing up on FOI requirements for hydro billing records, and perhaps compelling the hydro authority to provide municipalities with consumption records on request. "The ultimate goal is to drive these unsafe practices out of our residences." The project is creating interest around the province. Langford Fire Chief Bob Beckett is studying it and preparing a report for Langford council. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin