GROW HOUSES CREATING HAZARDS FOR FIREFIGHTERS

Local firefighters are responsible for uncovering two pot farms in
Maple Ridge earlier this week, and all by accident.

The first marijuana grow operation was discovered in a home in the
22000-block of Lougheed Highway on Monday, at about 10:18 a.m.

It was reported as a chimney fire by someone driving by, said Maple
Ridge fire chief Dane Spence.

Upon entering the home, and while closely inspecting the chimney,
firefighters discovered the pot growing operation on the bottom
floor, Spence said.

The fire department doesn't keep records on the number of grow
operations they encounter, but he said it has happened quite a number
of times during recent years.

Another pot farm was discovered Tuesday at a home in the 22100-block
of Cliff Avenue.

"We responded to what was called in as a possible explosion at about
11:20 p.m.," Spence said.

What he believes happened was the hydro service had burned off the
connection at the back of the house and it was found "sparking and
popping."

Quite often the hydro service will overheat - whether there is an
illegal bypass or not - because the grow operation puts so much
demand on incoming electrical service that connections can heat up
and fail, Spence said.

With the live wires sparking on the ground and home, the fire crew
was limited in what they can do beyond calling B.C Hydro and securing
the area.

While firefighters were in process of dealing with that, however,
they came across signs of a grow operation and called police.

Local police could not offer any information about either of these
drug busts earlier this week.