Toronto Fire Services - Clandestine Drug Labs - Standard Operating Guideline PDF

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE CLANDESTINE DRUG LABORATORIES Date Issued: March 29, 2019 Rescinds: December 1, 2008 Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-CLAN PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services personnel with a guideline for responding to and safely mitigating emergency in...

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE CLANDESTINE DRUG LABORATORIES Date Issued: March 29, 2019 Rescinds: December 1, 2008 Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-CLAN PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services personnel with a guideline for responding to and safely mitigating emergency incidents at clandestine drug laboratories (clan labs). RESPONSIBILITY All personnel are responsible for understanding and following proper guidelines at a clan lab incident to ensure the health, safety and welfare of personnel. Company Officers are responsible for ensuring their personnel follow established guidelines for responses to clan labs. The Incident Commander is responsible for following guidelines at a clan lab incident to ensure the health, safety and welfare of personnel and for making all necessary notifications and ensuring all reports and documentation are completed and forwarded. Communications Centre personnel are responsible for assisting the Incident Commander with contacting or notifying agencies required at the scene. GUIDELINES 1. Background 1.1. The number of clan labs has increased significantly in recent years. Members of the Toronto Police Service (TPS) Major Drug Unit and Forensic Identification Unit require cooperation and sometimes assistance from TFS when dealing with clan labs. To ensure protection of the public, other emergency responders and themselves, all TFS personnel shall be familiar with and follow the procedures in this guideline. 2. Risk Assessment 2.1. Entry into a clan lab is high risk and shall only be made to conduct a known rescue of human life. Under fire conditions with no life hazard, prevent extension and exposure damage but do not enter the hazard area. 2.2. Caution should be exercised as wearing PPE with SCBA may not completely protect personnel from exposure at clan labs. 2.3. The Incident Commander should consider a defensive mode of attack as appropriate to protect personnel from unknown chemical exposure, explosion and rapid fire advance. File Code: G-CLAN Page 1 of 7  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 3. General Information 3.1. Clan labs can be defined as the following: Hidden, makeshift, chemical laboratories where dangerous chemicals are stored and used in the manufacture of illegal drugs (controlled substances, narcotics, etc.). 3.2. Clan labs are also known as narcotics laboratories or production houses. Clan labs can be located anywhere (houses, campers, boats, vans, warehouses, etc.) and may be fixed, mobile or transportable. They may be abandoned or in full production. Their purpose is to manufacture illegal drugs as economically and quickly as possible for sale on the street, usually with no regard for public health, safety or welfare. 3.3. Clues that may indicate the presence of a clan lab include the following: a) Blacked out windows, curtains always drawn. b) Expensive security system. c) Metal drums and boxes with labels removed or spray painted over. d) Chemical containers, particularly those that are not properly labeled. e) Strong pungent odours (e.g. ether, vinegar, urine, etc.). f) Laboratory glassware equipment (e.g. beakers, flasks, condensing towers, vacuum ports, etc.). g) Heating plates, heating elements or mantles. h) Makeshift ventilation pipes, vacuum tubes and plastic or rubber tubing. i) Fortification bars, locks and heavy security devices. j) Defence systems (booby-traps and triggering mechanisms). k) Weapons and/or large amounts of money. 4. Hazards 4.1. TFS personnel shall consider all of the following hazards associated with clan labs to be present or potentially present upon arrival and shall take appropriate precautions: a) Clan labs pose serious hazards to emergency response personnel and may also endanger residents in the community or contaminate the environment due to the lack of; i. Safety control systems. ii. Ventilation systems. iii. Knowledge of the clan lab operators. b) Unknown and hazardous chemicals that may be present such as; i. Common household chemicals (e.g., drain cleaner containing lye, hydrogen peroxide). ii. Explosives or toxins. iii. Radioactive materials. iv. Byproducts of drug production such as deadly phosgene gas. v. Exposure to chemicals through absorption, ingestion, inhalation or injection can result in long term health problems, severe injuries and File Code: G-CLAN Page 2 of 7  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE death. c) The use of water during fire suppression activities may cause a violent explosion or the release of toxic gases. d) Turning on electrical appliances (e.g. television, VCR) can trigger an explosion. e) Operators of clan labs may not always be familiar with the flammability and reactivity of some chemicals. f) On occasion, a clan lab and the surrounding property may be protected with defense systems or “booby-traps” to deter unwanted visitors. They vary from; i. Pipe-bombs and/or rigged devices. ii. Surveillance systems, guard dogs or snakes; The existence of booby-traps may cause personal injury or possibly create a life threatening situation. Opening or moving doors, windows, refrigerator doors, chemical containers or furniture may be a triggering mechanism for an explosive device or chemical reaction that may be lethal. Non-visible filament wire may be strung across doorways, corridors or stairways to trip personnel or trigger booby trap devices. g) IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT NOTHING IS MOVED, SHUT OFF, TURNED ON, OR TOUCHED AT A LABORATORY, WHETHER IT IS OPERATIONAL OR ABANDONED. i. Electric switches, vacuum pumps, chemical containers, glassware, or anything that is plugged into an electrical receptacle shall not be touched. ii. Water sources, especially to reflux or condensing towers, in the cooking process shall not be shut off as it can result in explosion. h) The suspected operators may be dangerous and armed with weapons and/or under the influence of controlled substances. Do not confront them. Report their presence or activities immediately to TPS from a safe and secure area. 5. Notification of and Support to Police Services 5.1. Clan lab investigations, seizures, and arrests of suspects are the responsibility of Police. Police services shall be requested immediately if not already on scene. 5.2. After securing the scene and checking for booby traps, TPS enter with their own air monitoring equipment, appropriate level of PPE (usually Level A suits) and the assistance of a chemist. 5.3. In Police initiated clan lab take-down situations, entry shall only be required if a Police Officer requires rescue. TPS normally provide a backup team for their own rescue. 5.4. TFS apparatus and personnel support shall include, but not be limited to the following: File Code: G-CLAN Page 3 of 7  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE a) District Chief; i. To liaise with the Police Site Safety Officer. b) Heavy Hazardous Materials Unit; i. For assistance in substance identification. c) Closest Pumper class apparatus. d) Decon 234 for Police and/or Fire decontamination. e) A Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) trained for fire/rescue. 5.5. The TFS Incident Commander at the scene of any clan lab shall remain in contact with the on scene TPS lead investigator. 5.6. TFS shall provide support to Police personnel and other agencies, when requested, at sites of clan lab. Support may consist of, but is not limited to the following: a) Providing research and information on chemicals that are suspected or are known to be in the laboratory. b) Remote exterior air monitoring. c) Mitigation of hazardous chemicals. d) Protection for fire/explosion hazards. e) Decontamination of any entry personnel. 5.7. If conditions such as rescue of persons or fire suppression are non-existent, TFS personnel shall immediately leave the clan lab area and stand-by at the safe evacuation distance of 50 m - 100 m. The clan lab shall be treated as a crime scene under the authority of the Police services. 5.8. Police have been instructed to make contact for clan lab take downs through the TFS Special Operations Section. If contacted directly by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), or any other policing agency, the Chief Officer should advise the level of TFS support is the same for each policing agency. 5.9. The Fire Prevention Division shall be notified of TFS support for pre-planned Police operations at clan labs. 6. Safe Entry 6.1. TFS personnel shall not participate in any Police Services operational entry into an unsecured laboratory. Secure shall mean the Police Service has surveyed the area and confirmed that no explosive devices exist and that all suspects are in custody. 6.2. TFS personnel may make entry into a secured area for fire suppression or hazardous material related tasks when deemed safe to do so. 7. Exposure 7.1. TFS personnel showing any signs or symptoms of a chemical exposure during or after any incident involving a clan lab shall be treated and transported to a hospital for assessment. 7.2. All exposed and potentially exposed personnel should complete the File Code: G-CLAN Page 4 of 7  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE appropriate TFS exposure reporting forms and submit them for signature to Supervising Officers and forwarding to the appropriate Divisions. 8. Mandatory Use of SCBA and Personal Protective Equipment 8.1. At all clan lab incidents, TFS personnel shall be protected by the following: a) Full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). b) SCBA donned and activated before entering or operating in any confirmed or suspected clan lab area. 8.2. Higher levels of PPE in the form of chemical protective suits (varying levels) may be necessary as determined by TFS Hazardous Materials Technicians. 9. Mandatory Use of Air Monitoring Equipment 9.1. TFS personnel shall not enter any clan lab area before testing the atmosphere for explosive/flammable vapours, toxins and other hazards. No entry shall be permitted for TFS personnel when an air monitoring instrument indicates toxic vapours or explosive/combustible vapours present at 10% of the LEL (lower explosive limit) or more. Other readings shall be assessed by TFS Hazardous Materials Technicians before entry is allowed with the appropriate level of PPE. 10. Decontamination 10.1. All zones should be clearly marked when establishing a Decontamination Area. Entry Control shall be established to monitor activity in the hot zone. 10.2. Decontamination of all personnel and equipment exposed shall take place at the appropriate level as assessed by TFS Hazardous Materials Technicians. Exposed equipment, especially PPE, may require professional cleaning or proper disposal. 11. Rescue and Evacuation of Injured 11.1. The Incident Commander shall ensure the following: a) All victims are immediately rescued. b) All effected or injured persons are treated. c) Toronto EMS personnel are requested if not already on scene. d) Evacuation of; i. All persons immediately from the building. ii. The outdoor area of all civilians and unnecessary emergency response personnel and apparatus for a 50 - 100 m radius. e) Evacuation area is secured with barrier tape, etc. to prevent unauthorized entry. f) Police Service personnel restrict or re-route all traffic (vehicle and/or pedestrian) away from the evacuation area. 11.2. Police may consider evacuation of persons from the building their responsibility as “persons of interest” may be within this group File Code: G-CLAN Page 5 of 7  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 12. Fire Suppression 12.1. Entry into a clan lab is high risk and shall only be made to conduct a known rescue of human life. Under fire conditions with no life hazard, prevent extension and exposure damage but do not enter the hazard area. 12.2. Caution should be exercised as wearing PPE with SCBA may not completely protect personnel from exposure at clan labs. 12.3. The Incident Commander should consider a defensive mode of attack as appropriate to protect personnel from unknown chemical exposure, explosion and rapid fire advance. 12.4. The use of water during fire suppression activities may cause a violent explosion or the release of toxic gases. 12.5. If fire suppression on smaller fires is necessary, it should be attempted with dry chemical agents first. 12.6. All water run-off should be considered contaminated. Diking and containment should be considered where possible. 13. Other Notifications 13.1. TFS personnel can request the response of Health Canada, Clandestine Drug Laboratory Investigative and Control personnel through the on scene Police Service personnel if they have not already done so. 13.2. Health Canada personnel attend as a part of the Police protocol for clan lab operations. The Chemist works closely with the Site Safety Officer and the Lead Investigating Officer. 13.3. The Ontario Fire Marshal (OFM) shall be notified via the TFS Communications Centre of any fire or explosion in a building used as a clan lab. 14. Questions 14.1. Further information regarding Clandestine Drug Laboratory operations may be acquired by contacting the Professional Development and Training Division – Special Operations Section. ATTACHMENT(S) N/A RELATED SOGS G-AIRB — Air Monitoring G-BOMB — Bomb Threats G-EVID — Evidence Protection G-HAZA — Hazardous Materials Incidents – Alarm Levels G-HAZC — Hazardous Materials Incident Operations File Code: G-CLAN Page 6 of 7  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE G-HAZD — Hazardous Materials Incidents – Decontamination Operations G-POPP — Police (Ontario Provincial Police – OPP) G-POPR — Police (Royal Canadian Mounted Police – RCMP) G-POPT — Police (Toronto) G-WITN — Witness Statements File Code: G-CLAN Page 7 of 7