Abstract
Clandestine Drug Labs (CDL) and the associated incidents that they create are becoming more prevalent within the United States and create severe hazards for fire and rescue personnel. The chemicals, lab equipment, cooking process and the occupants of these labs are all hazards that fire and rescue personnel must confront when responding to a location that contains a CDL. If not properly trained on what hazards exist within these labs and what to look for, fire and rescue personnel could walk into deadly situations. Hazards within Clandestine Drug Labs
While Clandestine Drug Labs (CDL) have been around for years, they are now showing up in every community and pose dangers to the public, the occupants, and fire and rescue personnel. Fire and Rescue personnel may come across a CDL in their normal responses for fire and EMS calls, or providing support to law enforcement for EMS standbys and decontamination. Regardless of the type of CDL or its location, a CDL presents many hazards for fire and rescue personnel in the form of: chemicals, jerry-rigged equipment, incompatible materials in close proximity, make shift cooking process, hazardous waste, booby traps, criminals, and the final product of the process (Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue, 2000).

Each of the above hazards in themselves present issues for fire and rescue personnel, but the potential of having all of them in one place complicates a swift mitigation of the incident. According to Hadlock (2012) “Clandestine labs produce unstable environments because of the reactions of the different chemicals being combined, water-reactive chemicals, heating elements, and poor ventilation, which produce explosive environments. The combining of chemicals, solvents, fuels, heating methods and poor environments produces devastating results” (p. 1).
Chemicals
Most of the chemicals needed to produce the end product are readily available from local stores or are ingredients in other consumer products. Depending on the end product being produced and the cooking method to produce the product will depend on which chemicals are needed. Regardless of the cooking method, most all chemicals used in the process are in the form of solids, liquids and gases and can be flammable, corrosive, and toxic. These chemicals include precursors or chemical building blocks, reagents (chemicals to alter precursors), and general purpose chemicals such as solvents and acids to aid in the reaction and isolate the end product (Michael, 2008). Add into this that most of the chemicals are stored in Jerry-rigged equipment, such as pressure vessels not intended for the product used, and it creates a very dangerous environment.
Flammables, Corrosives, Toxics
In most cases, the fire department is called to the location because a fire has started due to the CDL production. The heating of flammable chemicals during the cooking of the product can create a fire that quickly spreads to other chemicals creating a hazardous environment. These flammable liquids not only produce intense heat, they also create inhalation and direct flame contact hazards for responding personnel.
The corrosive chemicals used in the cooking process will cause serious burns to the skin if contacted and will create corrosive vapors that will cause internal lung tissue damage if inhaled (Heindrichs, 2008).
Toxics are produced when the ephedrine source is ground into a powder and becomes an inhalation threat. Responders must be aware of this powdery substance even if fire is not involved because it could cause a drug overdose from inhalation (Heindrichs, 2008).
Exposure to these chemicals usually occurs through inhalation and direct contact while operating on the scene. It is crucial that all personnel wear the proper level of PPE to include SCBA. According to Betsinger (2006) “Appropriate respiratory protection and other personal protective equipment are key components in reducing the risk of adverse health affects for personnel entering and cleaning up methamphetamine laboratories” (p. 3).

Lab Equipment Since most CDL’s are homemade, common household utensils, containers and appliances are used in the process and to store hazardous chemicals. In most cases the storage containers that are used are incompatible with the chemicals that are being used. Most commonly, a propane tank is used to store anhydrous ammonia with do-it-yourself piping. This is a ticking time bomb and presents major hazards for fire and rescue personnel in the form of an explosion and release of the product. Aluminum pots used to cook the product react with lye that is used as part of the process producing flammable hydrogen gas.
Other Hazards The occupants of a CDL and their associated booby traps create real threats for fire and rescue personnel. Occupants are usually armed and should be considered dangerous even you personnel are responding for a simple EMS call. The structure itself is usually rigged with all types of booby traps to include trip-wire explosives, land mines, guard dogs, acid bombs, and concealed traps (Hadlock, 2012).
Conclusion
Regardless of the product being produced in a CDL, the hazards associated with the production of the product is going to be the same. These labs pose a huge threat to all first responders and precautions must be taken to protect all personnel. Command must inform all personnel as soon as possible that they are operating within a CDL. Personnel should never touch or move any of the equipment within the CDL. In addition they should not sniff any containers, turn on any lights, eat, drink or smoke at the scene.
All personnel should go through the proper decontamination steps on scene to limit their exposure to the chemicals and by-products.
References
Betsinger, G. (2006, November 1). Coping with meth lab hazards. Occupational Health and Safety, DOI: ohsonline.com/Articles/2006/../Coping-with-Meth-Lab-Hazards.aspx

Hadlock, T. (2012, February 2). Clandestine drug labs present hidden dangers for firefighters. Fire Engineering.

Heindrichs, K. (2008). Clandestine drug lab training. Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue Training Program.

Michael, J. (2008, June 1). Firefighting in clandestine drug labs. Fire Engineering.