Pubdate: Wed, 08 Jun 2005
Source: Pensacola News Journal (FL)
Copyright: 2005 The Pensacola News Journal
Contact:  http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1675
Author: Paul Flemming, News Journal capital bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

STATE TO TRAIN IN METH LAB DISPOSAL

TALLAHASSEE -- More meth labs are being discovered and seized in
Florida, bringing an increased danger to law enforcement and first
responders who encounter the volatile, sometimes booby-trapped rigs.

The State Fire Marshal will start training first responders this month
on how to protect themselves.

"Meth makers are domestic terrorists, no doubt about it," said state
Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, who oversees the marshal's office.

The Drug Enforcement Administration says there were 332
methamphetamine labs seized in Florida last year, up from 28 in 2001.
In 2003, 140 meth labs were seized in the 10-county region from
Escambia County to Gulf County; in 2004, 169 labs were seized in the
region.

Also, nearly 1,800 first responders in 16 states, including Florida,
were injured by meth labs between June 2000 and June 2004.

Jeff Land, chief of the East Milton Volunteer Fire Department, would
welcome the training.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office recently called the Fire
Department after serving a warrant at a house and discovering a meth
lab. But the volunteers didn't have the training to tear down the lab.

"We put air packs on and secured the area," Land said. "Then we let
the Sheriff's Office deal with it."

A deputy trained to handle meth labs packed up the lab.

"If we can get that training in our neck of the woods, I'd sure be
interested," Land said.

Milton Fire Chief John Reble said firefighters receive awareness
training so they can recognize when a structure fire may have been
caused by a meth lab, but they don't have the specialized training
required to clean up these hazardous sites.

"It's a capability we can't maintain," said Reble, chairman of the
Santa Rosa County Emergency Services Advisory Committee.

The training piggybacks on legislation signed last week by Gov. Jeb
Bush. Sponsored by Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, and Sen. Durrell Peaden,
R- Crestview, the law restricts the sales of over-the-counter products
that contain methamphetamine makings.

The law also provides stiffer penalties when meth production injures
or kills children or law enforcement officers.

Evers said not including protections for firefighters and other
emergency responders was an oversight that he hopes to fix.

"This legislation is like the tip of the iceberg," he said. "We've
only just begun."
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MAP posted-by: Derek