California Warehouse Fire Reveals Marijuana Operation
Source Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.
RICHMOND, Calif. -- An overnight fire at a warehouse revealed a large-scale marijuana grow and detectives are working to track down the person who was running the operation, police said.
Firefighters were called about 3:30 a.m. to a two-story warehouse at Ohio Avenue and South Sixth Street for reports of an electrical fire. After putting it out, they summoned police after discovering upwards of 1,000 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, Richmond police Lt. Bisa French said.
A woman in her late 20s was identified as a lookout for the grow house and was the one who called the fire department, French said. She was questioned by police but not immediately arrested.
French said the building housed a sophisticated growing scheme featuring plants in various stages of growth and rooms devoted solely to separating parts of the plants.
Based on conservative estimates, the operation was worth at least several hundred thousand dollars.
It was not immediately known who was in charge of the operation, French said, adding that detectives are writing a search warrant for the property.
Copyright 2012 - Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
