Port Carbon, Pa. Responders Take Extra Precautions With Drug Lab Fires

Dec. 02--

County firefighters have faced numerous fires recently that involved drug operations, such as meth labs or pot-growing operations.

The most recent was Wednesday in Port Carbon when an electrical circuit overload at a duplex on Coal Street started a fire that destroyed both homes and left four people homeless.

The fire started just after 6 a.m. at 233 Coal St., a two-story apartment house, and while working to extinguish the flames, firefighters discovered the second floor of that address was a clandestine marijuana growing-operation with more than 75 plants growing in gallon-sized buckets, an irrigation system made up of 55-gallon drums, chemicals, hoses, lights and packaging material like plastic bags.

Officers from the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force charged Dean Vermeersch, 53, with running the hydroponic marijuana operation on the second floor of 233 Coal St., according to documents filed in the office of Christina E. Hale, Frackville, the on-duty magisterial district judge who conducted the video arraignment Wednesday night.

The investigation is continuing.

Scott Krater, the Port Carbon fire marshal and director of the Schuylkill County Communications Center, said that firefighters don't know what they're going into when going to a fire that's the result of drug activity.

"You have the typical hazards you have with a fire, but you really don't know what the additional hazards could be," Krater said.

Krater said that when they discover "something doesn't seem right," then they have to worry if there's anything hazardous or explosive.

"Once you discover that, you still have to distinguish the fire, also trying to preserve the evidence for law enforcement," he said.

With a meth lab, Krater said that firefighters have to be careful since "even water hitting some of that stuff could trigger it."

At those types of scenes, firefighters wouldn't strictly use water, but also foam and any means possible to extinguish the blaze.

"It could also be booby trapped," Krater said. "They're there for the criminal element. There could be some device set up that could harm you when you go in."

On Jan. 12, 2010, area firefighters responded to a fire that started at 75 S. Tulpehocken St., Pine Grove, that destroyed seven homes in the borough's downtown and left about 14 people homeless.

The fire was the result of an illegal methamphetamine lab that exploded and four people were charged in connection with the drug operation.

Pine Grove fire Chief David Sattizahan, who at that time credited area firefighters for containing the fast-moving fire, said Friday that drug operation fires are especially difficult since it's not something firefighters deal with on a day-to-day basis.

"One of the biggest problems is the unknown dangers," Sattizahan said. "You don't know what you're faced with. You've got to fear for the safety of the firefighters at all times."

Agreeing with Krater that there could be explosions due to different chemicals on the scene, there's also the danger that the responders don't know what they could be breathing in.

"Not that any fire is any better than the other, but the explosion factor, you just don't know," he said.

He also said that with these types of fires, they will often spread more rapidly.

While firefighters can never be completely prepared for what they will face in a drug operation-related fire, Schuylkill County EMA Director John Matz said that SCEMA arranges classes for area firefighters.

"We work very closely with the Pennsylvania State Police Clandestine Lab Response Team," Matz said. "They will come in and do the class for chief officers and for firefighters so they are aware of what the warning signs are for an illegal drug lab."

The classes mostly deal with recognizing the signs of a drug operation since it's much better to recognize it ahead of time because with the chemicals being used, there's always the possibility of explosions.

Matz said that there have been many instances in the county where the state police Clandestine Lab Response Team had to come in.

"It really ends up being when the fire's out, it ends up being a law enforcement issue," he said.

State police fire marshal Trooper Michael Yeity of the Troop L headquarters in Reading also commented on the issues with drug operations and fires.

Yeity said that with meth labs, most of the chemicals are household chemicals, but when responders arrive, they don't know the amount of chemicals, what type they are or where they're stored, and there's the danger of additional explosions, chemical burns and toxic fumes that "could give respiratory issues, if not kill you."

Since by-products have to be vented in a meth operation, Yeity said that neighbors should be able to smell it and that could be one warning sign.

"I don't know how to even explain it," Yeity said. "It's a smell that you just know."

While not all the same dangers are present at a growing operation, Yeity said that the growers still have to vent the exhaust and that the fires can start since the flood lamps used generate a lot of heat.

The lamps can also overrun their circuits, such as what happened Wednesday, so he said at more advanced operations, they will try to bypass their electric service meter so the electric company won't be notified of the usage, but doing that, are putting themselves at risking of being electrocuted and other issues.

Yeity said those responsible for the drug operation fires would face drug charges and if they try to stop firefighters from going in, there would be additional charges.

"They would be looking at disorderly conduct, interfering with officials doing official business," he said.

It can range from summary offenses to misdemeanors and can progress depending on what their actions are.