Pubdate: Thu, 11 May 2006 Source: Richmond Review, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Richmond Public Library Contact: http://www.richmondreview.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/704 Author: Wilbur Walrond Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) FIREFIGHTERS FACE DRUG LAB DANGERS A few weeks ago I attended an RCMP sponsored seminar in Richmond concerning grow-op houses and clandestine lab site indicators. A most interested and informative evening and very well orchestrated. What was most interesting however was that when one of the special guest speakers, a representative from the local firefighters' department rose to speak, he casually mentioned that he was not quite sure why he was included in that evening's forum and so too did I, for that matter. But not for long until he mentioned, and again very casually, since he was rather soft spoken and gentle, and I paraphrase: 'Our attitude in the way we approach a fire scene today has changed from that of previous years when we would enter the premises as quickly as possible in order to save the lives of anyone that may be trapped inside. Today with the advent of the possibility of "grow ops" and even more so meth labs, likely to be in the premises considering the fact that chemicals might be present, we have to be very cautious of possible explosions while we are approaching the house or worse yet while inside and so added safety precautions have to be taken.' Now we know why he was included in the forum. Crime, regardless of its type and magnitude affects us all and often times more so those who by the very nature of their jobs already are required to put themselves at risk to try to save the rest of us before they even have time to think about saving themselves first. Just a thought, considering the recent spate of adverse publicity about our daring and endearing firemen, for the next time we jump to judge all firefighters (or anyone else for that matter) with the same supposedly tarred fire hose of just one or two of their cohorts. Wilbur Walrond Richmond - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman