Emergency crews, including a hazmat team, were on scene in a residential area of Richmond Friday afternoon after a suspected drug lab was discovered in a home.
Multiple RCMP vehicles and fire trucks attended the 11000 block of Kingfisher Drive, near Kingfisher and Flamingo Court in the Westwind neighbourhood. Several witnesses reported seeing RCMP's Air 1 helicopter flying low overhead.
An RCMP release stated that emergency crews "observed items that may be consistent with a potential synthetic drug lab."
“These situations are extremely dynamic and pose a high risk to emergency personnel as well as members of the public,” Cpl. Adriana Peralta says in the statement. “Fortunately, we were able to secure the area quickly and no one was injured.”
One neighbour posted in a Richmond Facebook group saying that police officers clad in gas masks came to evacuate her home. She also mentioned a smell in the air that officers told her was “chemicals.”
Coun. Linda McPhail also lives in the area, and told the News that police prevented her from entering her cul-de-sac around 12:30 p.m.
“It’s a bit nerve-wracking,” she said. “But I trust that we have the very finest in our RCMP and fire department.”
She added she hopes the public will find out what happened once police resolve the situation.
The incident occurred near Westwind Elementary School, but classes were not in session due to the summer holiday.
