In April, the Tamaqua Fire Department responded to a dwelling fire. While battling the apartment blaze, they uncovered items which indicated there might be a meth lab in the building.

Immediately, their mode of operation changed. The safety of the firefighters became more critical. The dangerous chemicals associated with such operations put them at risk as did the potential for an explosion.Meth labs also emit caustic substances that can severely burn exposed skin and even the eyes of firefighters.In the past year, at least a half dozen labs have been raided.For emergency responders, any evidence of such a situation means the level of danger rises dramatically.First responders are actively being trained to identify and properly secure them.Last week, police raided a suspected methamphetamine lab in Nesquehoning. A special unit of the Pennsylvania State Police was summoned to the scene with equipment and safety gear for handling the toxic substances.The Nesquehoning Fire Department also responded.Shawn McArdle, captain of the Nesquehoning Fire Department, said most members of his fire department have training in hazardous materials operations, which includes meth labs.He said three members recently reach hazmat technician level and six members are certified hazmat technicians.McArdle stressed that it's important firefighters have sufficient training dealing with meth labs not only because of the dangers the labs pose, but also preserving evidence for police.DecontaminationClandestine methamphetamine labs come in two basic sizes super and small-time.Often, the small-time labs are more dangerous than the super labs because "inexperienced chemists" handle hazardous chemicals, sometimes even making their own reagent chemicals.One kilogram (2.2 pounds) of methamphetamine manufactured will yield 5 to 7 kilograms (11 to 15.4 pounds) of toxic waste. This waste is dumped in household drains, in vacant lots and fields, and on roads, according to fire training manuals.Mark Nalesnik, Carbon County Emergency Management coordinator, also has received special training needed to deal with meth labs.Part of his expertise involves the decontamination of suspects involved in such operation, since their exposure to the chemicals can be spread to others who come in contact with them.In the Nesquehoning raid, the person inside the home was forced to shed his clothing and undergo an extensive decontamination operation.He was then placed in a white gown and his feet were covered with paper shoes.Nalesnik said, "We have special equipment and a special process for decontamination. A person in such a situation must go through a de-con process because of exposure to chemicals."Anytime a police raid occurs at a meth lab, there is always a danger of chemical exposure and explosion.When fire hitsThe situation becomes even more critical when, like in Tamaqua, there's already a fire and evidence at the scene suggests a meth lab.According to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, "Several studies involving law enforcement personnel responding to and investigating clandestine laboratories have shown significant evidence of adverse short- and long-term health effects. Primary effects are to the respiratory system."The making of meth is not new.Meth was synthesized in Japan in the late 1800s, and boomed from there. It was used as a stimulant during World War II by both the Axis and Allied powers, and in the 1970s it became a schedule II controlled substance. In the 1990s, instead of buying meth from Mexico, people in the United States began producing their own drugs via different recipes and methods.Wayne Briley, a certified instructor in California on hazardous material fires, told one of his training classes about an incident involving a meth lab where a container was found with two chemicals inside which had separated from each other. The top layer was found to be kerosene, the bottom layer was white phosphorous, which is highly flammable and will self-ignite when exposed to air.He said improper handling could have resulted in a major explosion.Briley was quoted as saying discarded meth chemicals aren't just flammable, but "highly, highly, highly flammable."He said acids and bases found in meth waste are considered corrosives.Acids will "burn like fire" on skin and cause the victim to try to wash the affected area with water, Briley said. Bases such as sodium hydroxide will burn like acid for a short time. The pain will subside, prompting the victim to think it's been washed off or is no longer a threat.Which means it burned through the nerve endings and it's heading down to the bone and fat.This likely will result in amputation, he said.