FIRE THAT DAMAGED MARIJUANA GROW HOUSE IS LABELED AS ARSON

A fire that broke out Tuesday night in a Golden Gate Estates house
being used to grow marijuana was caused by the improper modification
of the house's wiring, an investigator from the State Fire Marshal's
Office said Wednesday.

But even though the fire was accidental, it is still being called
arson because the fire occurred while a felony was taking place.

"Because the wire was to support the activity going on inside the
house, we have deemed it an incendiary fire, therefore arson," Lt.
Adam Rivero said.

The fire broke out at about 8:22 p.m. at [address redacted]. When
firefighters from the Golden Gate Fire Control and Rescue District
arrived on the scene they found part of the one-story house engulfed
in smoke and flames. The fire was under control by about 8:45 p.m.

The fire burned through the roof and did significant damage to one
side of the home, said Victor Hill, a spokesman for Golden Gate fire.
Firefighters were on scene until about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Firefighters entered the home to see if anyone was inside. Instead of
people they found marijuana plants.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office vice and narcotics bureau was
called to investigate. Once the fire was out, investigators entered
and found 84 marijuana plants valued at $84,000. They also found grow
operation equipment valued at about $5,000.

The Sheriff's Office is conducting the criminal investigation, but no
arrests have been made in the case, said spokeswoman Kristin Adams.

"They're still continuing the investigation into possible suspects
for the drug crimes," Adams said.

According to a representative from the Collier County Property
Appraiser's Office, the house is owned by [Name redacted], who
purchased it in 2000 for $150,500. [Name redacted] does not claim a
homestead exemption on the house.

The market value of the house before the fire was $274,754, the
representative said.