MOCK METH LAB BENEFITS EMERGENCY PERSONNEL

Busting a meth manufacturing operation and stopping the perpetrators from distributing the illegal and [potentially deadly) substance is only part of law enforcement's job. Unfortunately, according to Doug Ferguson, there are some agencies who leave it at that.

"A lot of places say We don't touch this,'" said Ferguson, with Ecology and Environment, Inc., of Overland Park, Kan. "You still have the hazardous materials sitting there."

Ferguson was quick to praise Chief Brad Golden and the Jackson Fire Rescue Unit, who invited Ferguson and his team to town to put on a two-day workshop on dealing with the safe disposal of meth labs recently.

"They really deserve some respect," Ferguson said. "It says a lot for Brad and his department."

The training was held in a science lab at Jackson High School. Ferguson also expressed appreciation to the R-2 School District, noting that many schools would not be willing to yield a classroom for two days for such training.

The Jackson Fire Rescue, meanwhile, has a portable lab, for identifying hazardous materials.

"We take samples of unknown substance and try to figure out what it is," said Captain Randy Davis. "In the three or four months we've had it, we've had dealings with it five or six times a month. It'll probably pick up when more agencies know that we have this, here in Jackson. You used to have to take it to Poplar Bluff. You won't have to drive as far; we cover around a 50-square mile area."

The training provided by Ferguson and his associates count toward the fire fighters' hours of training and allows them to deal with hazardous materials safely, once they are identified.

Ferguson and his crew set up a mock meth lab and took the Fire Rescue, other emergency personnel and fire personnel from surrounding towns through step-by-step processes of safe disposal.

"We're preparing them to do a better job working in their community, instead of pointing fingers," Ferguson explained.

The attendees learned to identify hazards and to package them and transport them safely.