BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE NO. 51
RESPONSE TO CLANDESTINE DRUG LABS
5/22/06
S.O.P. # 51 1
5/22/06
SOP # 51
RESPONSE TO CLANDESTINE DRUG LABS
SCOPE
51.1 The number of clandestine drug laboratories has increased dramatically in recent
years. Toxic chemicals, explosions, fires, booby traps, and even armed criminals can be
encountered when coming across these labs. This document is intended to give
members an overview and guide for recognizing and operating at these types of
incidents.
51.2 Methamphetamine is a powerfully addictive drug that is easily produced using
readily available chemicals and over the counter medications. A derivative of
amphetamine, it is a powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Labs
may be encountered in almost any location, including but not limited to;
Industrial buildings
Motel rooms
Private homes
Motor homes
Motor vehicles
In short, a small lab may be set up anywhere out of sight of the general public, and it
does not take a college educated chemist to accomplish the manufacturing of this drug.
HAZARD/IDENTIFICATION
51.3 There are various general hazards associated with clandestine drug labs;
Hazardous chemical properties of materials used
Lack of safety control systems (labeling, venting, etc.)
Lack of chemistry background on part of people involved
Some common booby traps are:
Trip wires designed to set off alarms, explosions, or toxic chemical
devices.
Light switches, refrigerators, VCR,s or other electrical appliances wired
to explosive devices.
Buried wooden planks with large nails or spikes protruding upward.
5/22/06
S.O.P. # 51 2
Attack dogs may be present.
51.4 In the case of clandestine methamphetamine labs, the process being
used determines the chemicals that will be present at the lab. According to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, the following are the three most common production methods
and specific hazards for methamphetamine.
METHOD #1:
1) P2P Lab (Phenyl-2-Propane)
Chemicals encountered
Methylamine
Mercuric Chloride
Alcohol
Phenyl-2-Propanone
Chemical Hazards
Severe eye and skin irritation from methylamine(may cause
blindness.)
Use of highly toxic mercuric chloride
Occasional use of methylamine compressed gas cylinders
METHOD # 2:
1) Ammonia Lab
Chemicals encountered
Anhydrous ammonia
Lithium
Sodium
Chemical Hazards
Reaction of water with sodium/lithium
Flammability and irritant toxicity hazard from concentrated
ammonia vapors.
Electroplating sodium metal from molten sodium hydroxide.
METHOD #3:
1) Red Phosphorous Lab
Chemicals Encountered
Red phosphorous
Hydriotic acid
5/22/06
S.O.P. # 51 3
Chemical Hazards
Phosphine gas production
Conversion of red phosphorous to white phosphorous
Use of acid gas generators
Exothermic/incompatible reaction of red phosphorous
NOTE: After completion of the production process there is a large amount of
hazardous waste left over. Many labs can produce large quantities of finished product
in only twelve hours. There are five to six pounds of waste produced from every pound
of finished product, all of it dumped illicitly, probably in the vicinity of the lab.
51.5 There are a number of indicators that firefighters should watch for when
responding to a potential drug lab or other unknown condition;
Unusual odors like ether, acetone, solvents, odors of stale urine
Covered or painted over windows
Uncommon security measures
Laboratory glassware
Heating elements, hot plates
Marked and unmarked chemical containers
POLICY
51.6 Clandestine drug laboratory investigations, seizures, and arrests of suspects are
all Police department and law enforcement agency matters. The Boston Fire
Department will provide support for the Boston Police Department, or other law
enforcement agencies, at these lab sites. Support may consist of, but is not limited to;
Chemical research
PPE information
Exterior air monitoring
Entry corridor/ Decontamination corridor set up
Back-up/Rescue entry team
IDENTIFICATION OF LAB-NO FIRE
51.7 Personnel that encounter a suspected laboratory should withdraw to a safe
location immediately. The 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook recommends a 330
foot isolation zone for unidentified materials. Once an isolation zone is established, the
Incident Commander shall notify the F.A.O. with the conditions found. A sample radio
message would be;
The companies on scene will activate their Canberra dosimeters ;
5/22/06
S.O.P. # 51 4
The Engine company on scene will then stretch a 1 ¾ inch hoseline to the edge of the
cold zone as an emergency Decon line.
51.8 Upon his/her arrival, the District Chief will assess the situation, and if necessary,
shall call for the balance of the drug lab response;
HazMat District Chief
HazMat Tech Specialist
Hazardous Materials Operations Unit (H-3)
Decontamination Response Unit (H-5)
Mobile Decontamination Unit (H-7)
51.9 First responders exposed to the potential unstable materials shall establish a
waiting area at the edge of the isolation/hot zone. Responding Decon companies shall
set up an entry corridor/Decon corridor from their location out into the cold zone. In the
case of a lab reported to the BFD by the BPD, H-5 and H-7 will set up this corridor in a
location approved by the BPD Incident Commander.
IDENTIFICATIONOF LAB-FIRE
51.10 Once a lab is identified, members shall implement the following procedures to
ensure the safety of responders and the public.
No interior firefighting
All personnel evacuate affected area in orderly fashion
Personnel accountability shall be maintained
DO NOT interrupt utilities to the building
DO NOT touch /move anything in or around incident area
DO NOT apply water to lab area (possibility of reactive materials)
DO NOT overhaul
51.11 When indicators of a clandestine lab are found, treat the call as a hazardous
materials incident. Create an exclusion zone- withdraw immediately to a safe location
upwind/uphill: follow response procedures as per SOP 53 for Hazardous Materials.
51.12 The District Chief and the HazMat Chief, after conferring with the law
enforcement I.C., will call for any additional HazMat response that is necessary to
assist the entry team. This may include B.F.D. HazMat entry teams as back up rescue
for initial entry teams.
DECONTAMINATION
51.13 The initial entry corridor/exclusion zone line shall be used for setting up the
Decon corridor, unless conditions require that a different site be used. Refer to S.O.P
53B on placement and set up of Decon.
5/22/06
S.O.P. # 51 5
51.14 Request may be made From the law enforcement personnel having jurisdiction
to set up an evidence corridor in the Decon line, as this event will be considered a crime
scene. The law enforcement agency entry team will be following their own
teams must use the designated corridor to enter/exit the hot zone. Decon will remain in
place until completion of HazMat operations.
51.15 The Boston Fire Department will not remove or dispose of any hazardous
materials associated with a clandestine drug laboratory. Proper disposal is the
responsibility of the law enforcement agency that is making the seizure.
5/22/06
