From San Diego to Texas....weed fires a new hazard?
EDINBURG, TX - Some Edinburg firefighters could test positive for drugs after battling a warehouse fire.
It happened off Owassa Road in Edinburg. Edinburg Fire Chief Shawn Snider says the fire crew quickly learned marijuana was on fire. He tells us no one breathed in the burning pot.
"I advised them on the radio that, to make sure everyone comes out of the truck with an air pack on, which is standard operating procedure for anyone going to fight the fire," he explains.
But having the air packs on might not have stopped their exposure on other parts of their bodies.
The fire chief says his crews were exposed to marijuana debris, after they put out the fire. They may have absorbed ashes in skin or hair.
"They were decontaminated. We washed them down. We washed their bunker gear down and their boots to make sure they didn't bring any material with them," he says.
Marijuana can be traced even months after someone's been exposed to it. Chief Snider says the City of Edinburg has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to drugs.
As a precaution, he contacted city officials and gave them a list of everyone who responded to Wednesday's fire.
Snider says he wants the city to know his guys' drug tests could come back positive through no fault of their own.
He adds his firefighters are clean, but he isn't taking any chances.
The county fire marshal continues to investigate the warehouse fire. We're told there was no signs of forced entry.
