METH REARS ITS UGLY HEAD

Methampetamine is a scourge on our youth and the production of it
should be taken very seriously by our courts for that reason alone.

Wasted young lives, crime and serious traffic accidents, spiralling
health and welfare costs all spring from these meth labs.

Tuesday, a fire in a meth lab on 56 Avenue near 198 Street graphically
illustrated other threats the meth labs pose to society.

Two Langley City firefighters were sent to hospital for observation
after they were exposed to toxic fumes and experienced burning and
rashes on their arms.

Fortunately it was not worse. And four days before Christmas, more
than 40 residents from the area surrounding the meth lab were
evacuated to an emergency reception centre at about 2 p.m., and did
not get the go-ahead to return home until 11 p.m. to midnight.

Langley RCMP, Langley City Fire Rescue Service, the Surrey Hazmat
Team, the RCMP Clandestine Lab Team, and ambulance personnel all
attended the scene. And two blocks of 56 Avenue, a main thoroughfare,
was blocked for several hours. At least three legitimate nearby
business operations were evacuated and closed.

A 22-year-old suspect is under arrest. It's unlikely he owns the
house.

While the council has a bylaw that authorizes Langley City to bill
landlords for demolition or repairs necessary after drug busts, as yet
the taxpayer is on the hook for all the costs of public safety
employees and resources resulting from these crimes.

Fire and police officers were tied up for hours, and the investigative
team did not leave the scene until 11 p.m. Wednesday.

The sooner the City goes after landlords for all costs associated with
grow ops and drug labs, the better.