Someone decided to dump potentially hazardous waste from a clandestine meth lab in a vacant lot near a Langley elementary school last week.
Police discovered five 45-gallon drums and another 40 20-liter pails containing more liquid after they spotted a vehicle parked on the property in the 7800 block of 208 Street on Friday (Sept. 30), down the street from Willoughby Elementary School.
The vehicle managed to flee the scene.
The Clandestine Lab Response Team determined the liquid was waste from a methamphetamine production lab.
As a safety precaution, the Township of Langley Fire Department was called in as well.
Staff at the school were notified.
The scene was cordoned off and cleaned up by hazardous material handling experts after classes had been dismissed for the day.
Langley RCMP Cpl. Holly Marks said residents should report suspicious activity at abandoned properties to the police.
"If you notice something out of the norm, such as vehicles parked at an abandoned property, people walking around the property, chemical smells, pails and barrels dumped on a property, please call police," Cpl. Marks said.
“Anyone coming across these liquids should immediately contact police because there is an extremely acidic base to the liquid which can cause skin burns.”
There is also a significant environmental risk if the liquids spill into the ground or enter the water system.