That’s about 120 times the allowable limit in legal Colorado, which is a maximum of 12 cannabis plants per household. That’s when they “saw evidence of a possible illegal marijuana grow operation,” given the multiple electrical panels, large air-conditioning units and vents. Upon obtaining a search warrant, narcotics detectives entered the building, finding and seizing 1,446 marijuana plants. Fire investigations and illegal cannabis grows have often crossed paths. Just last month in Oregon, sheriff’s officials found an illegal marijuana grow with more than 2,000 plants while responding to a structure fire.
Colorado deputies were on the hunt for the seat of a fire at a house that was a blaze, but were surprised to make a more interesting fine: an illegal grow-op estimated to have a street value of about US$1.4 million ($1.8 million).
Deputies with the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) were among the sheriff’s fire team, members of which are wildland fire-trained, called to a house fire on Nov. 22.
Sheriff’s office firefighters, along with Pueblo Rural firefighters, managed to quickly snuffed out the blaze, which showed smoke coming from the windows and ceiling, notes...
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