OG 4033 Clandestine Drug Labs

Issued By: OPERATIONS (D/C L. Williams)    
Date of Issue: 2007/04/16

 
Forms Required:    
•    FD-001 Exposure Documentation Record, must be filled out and submitted in the event of exposure

PURPOSE: 

To define the hazards and responsibilities of HRFE members upon discovering a Clandestine Drug Lab at any incident. 

OBJECTIVE:

To ensure the safety of fire service members who encounter clandestine drug labs in the course of their duties

SCOPE:

This operating guideline applies to career and volunteer members of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency.

PROCEDURE: 

Members may encounter clandestine drug labs during the normal performance of their duties. A clandestine drug lab is a secret or concealed location where illegal drugs or substances are produced. Any member who encounters these labs will exit the premises as quickly as practical, and inform the incident commander of the issue. The incident commander will then notify the police.

There are three (3) major categories of clandestine drug labs:

1.    Grow Labs - The final product at a grow lab is a mature plant (i.e. marijuana, mushrooms). There are many hazards associated with grow labs:

•    Electrocution (i.e. unsafe electrical devices, illegal feeds and bypasses )
•    Oxygen deficient atmosphere (i.e. propane or carbon dioxide may be released at an indoor grow lab to increase sap production)
•    Poisoning (i.e. contact with herbicides or pesticides) 
•    Mold spore inhalation (i.e. mold growth caused by excessive moisture and poor ventilation inside a building) 
•    Entrapment (i.e. electrical, gas and water lines suspended in the same bundle and run in common travel areas close to floors, across hallways and in staircases)
•    Ultra-Violet Radiation (i.e. high intensity grow lamps) 

2.    Extraction Labs - The final product at this lab is extracted from raw materials through the use of solvents and heat (i.e. THC removed from the flowering tops and leaves of mature marijuana plants). There are many hazards associated with extraction labs:

•    Explosive Atmosphere (i.e. extremely flammable evaporating solvents combined with heating devices)
•    Toxic Atmosphere (i.e. inhalation of chemicals)

3.    Synthesis Labs - At a synthesis lab, a mix of chemicals is allowed to react under controlled conditions, then the final product is salted or crystalized out of this solution (i.e. methamphetamine, MDMA, LSD). There are many hazards associated with synthesis labs:

•    Toxic, flammable, explosive, oxygen deficient atmospheres (i.e. by-products of the manufacturing process)
•    Corrosive, carcinogenic atmospheres (i.e. chemicals and gases present at the lab)

Lab Locations: 

Clandestine drug labs and their associated chemicals and components can be located almost anywhere. Labs have been found in single and multiple family dwellings, motel rooms, campgrounds, mini-storage buildings, motor vehicles, industrial warehouses and backpacks. Drug lab locations frequently have common traits which are easily observable:

a.    Blacked out windows or curtains always drawn
b.    Strong or unusual chemical odors (i.e. dried cat urine, solvent, ether, vinegar, ammonia)
c.    Garbage frequently has numerous bottles and containers
d.    Unfriendly/Secretive behavior
e.    Paranoid or odd behavior
f.    Expensive security
g.    Expensive vehicles

h.    Metal drums or boxes with labels removed or spray painted over
i.    Unemployed, yet seem to have plenty of money
j.    Unusual assemblage of equipment
k.    Discoloration of structures, pavements or soils (i.e. bleached, tarnished, rusted or corroded) 
l.    Guard Dogs
m.    Peep holes in multiple locations 
n.    Reflective covering over the windows which give the appearance of movement inside
o.    Mold and mildew on the exterior of buildings
p.    Propane cylinder with blue/green corrosion at valve
q.    Glass cookware 
r.    Heating plates
s.    Stained coffee filters
t.    Lab glassware, tubing or jars
u.    Smoke or flame with different colors or density
v.    Discoloured knives & spoons

Common Chemicals:

The chemicals required for clandestine drug labs can be purchased legally from a drug store or hardware store. The mere presence of these common chemicals does not necessarily indicate the presence of a drug lab. However, personnel should be alert for bulk quantities of these chemicals in unusual locations. Examples of some chemicals are:

OG 4033

Toxic Waste: 

The production of illegal drugs produces toxic waste. For example, for every pound of methamphetamine produced, approximately 5 pounds of toxic waste is produced. The lab operators may choose to dispose of the waste in the garbage, dump it on the side of the road, pour it down drains, burn it on site or leave it in the production area.

Physical Hazards: In addition to the chemical and process hazards, personnel must be aware of physical hazards. Anti-personnel devices or “booby traps” are designed to protect the lab owners investment. Opening or moving doors, windows, refrigerator doors, chemical containers, or furniture may be the triggering mechanism for an explosive device or chemical reaction that is lethal. Hazards such as holes in the floor may be concealed. Shards of glass or razor blades maybe fixed to furniture, handrails and door handles. Light bulbs maybe filled with gasoline or black powder. Weapons and guard dogs are common at labs. Drug users/lab operators may become violent. Drug paraphernalia such as broken glass tubes and syringes pose addition personal safety hazards.

Fire: Clandestine drug labs that are involved in a fire are typically not identified until after fire control has been achieved. Depending on the products involved, a fire in a clandestine drug lab can spread faster and burn with more intensity than what might normally be expected. The color of the flames may appear to be an unusually bright or dark orange, or the flames may be of several different colors. An unusual color of smoke or odor may also be present. A laboratory that is involved in a fire situation should be viewed cautiously by Command when tactics are considered. There are many unknowns considering chemicals involved and the possibility of booby traps.

Summary: Regardless of the lab status (i.e. operating, non-operating, stored or garbage dump site), the presence of hazardous materials is to be assumed in all cases. Do not touch anything or stop any chemical reactions in process. Any minor change to the environment may result in an explosion. Members should always avoid exposure to hazardous materials. However, if personnel find themselves exposed to a drug lab, exposure time must be kept to the minimum. All members exposed to a drug lab will be decontaminated. Any member showing signs of chemical exposure (i.e. shortness of breath, coughing, chest pains, lack of coordination, tissue irritation, burns, headache, nausea) during or after the incident will be immediately decontaminated and transported to hospital for evaluation. In the event of exposure, member(s) must complete and submit FD-001 Exposure Documentation Record. The police and your immediate supervisor must be informed every time a clandestine drug lab is discovered. Due to the combination of hazardous chemicals and criminal activity, every clandestine lab response should be considered a police and haz-mat response.


RELATED POLICIES/ OPERATING GUIDELINES:

•    OG-4022 Responding to Bomb Threats & Situations involving Explosive Substances

OPERATING GUIDELINE REVIEW:

This operating guideline shall be reviewed when/if there are changes/amendments to the procedure followed when a clandestine drug lab is encountered by a member of HRFE.