Pubdate: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 Source: Langley Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Langley Times Contact: http://www.langleytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230 STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION Another dangerous incident involving a fire at a drug production house illustrates the wisdom of Langley Township council's adoption of the Controlled Substance Property Bylaw. On Saturday, Coquitlam firefighters were called to a small fire in the basement of a residence on a quiet residential street. They saw several barrels of chemicals. Police, and a hazardous materials team fully outfitted in protective clothing were required, and the home is suspected of being a lab producing the drug ecstasy. Firefighters and police have a dangerous enough job as it is, without running the risk of encountering toxic and/or flammable or explosive chemicals; illegal electrical bypasses or exposed wiring, in pleasant residential neighbourhood. Neighours, and people like utility workers or inspectors attending to legitimate business, are not exempt, and fire, toxic fumes, or electrocution aren't the only dangers. Grow ops and drug labs are often targeted by other criminals, bringing the potential of violence to the quietest neighbourhood. Langley firefighters have encountered their fair share of chemical labs or grow ops with electrical hazards. Last month, after a report from Fire Chief Doug Wade, council approved $250,000 from 2007 budget contingencies to fund a pilot program to conduct safety inspections at suspect homes, and amended the Controlled Substance Property Bylaw, to require just 24 hours inspection-notice at suspected drug production facilities. In Surrey, a similar pilot project had encouraging results. During the four-month pilot hundreds of tips poured in from the public, and of 91 houses inspected, 90 were found to have evidence of illicit drug production. A minimum $3,500 fee, with additional fees, ranging from $500 to $1,000, should hopefully make landlords pay more attention to rental properties, and drug producers a little less interested in residential neighbourhoods. Wade and Township council deserve credit for their latest initiative against drug production. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath