BLAZE REVEALS MARIJUANA OPERATION

An angry Rottweiler dog greeted firefighters yesterday afternoon when
they burst into a burning home on Morley Avenue -- a fire that may
have been triggered by a small hydroponic marijuana grow operation.

Fire officials and neighbours said when firefighters broke down the
front door of the house they were startled by the Rottweiler and
another dog, believed to be a Shar-Pei.

The Rottweiler bolted out the door and away from the house while the
Shar-Pei stayed in the front yard as firefighters pulled in several
water hoses to put out the fire.

"There's a lot of fire, smoke and heat damage," District Chief Joe
Dufault said. "It looks like the fire started on the main floor, but
its cause is still under investigation."

Dufault said a cat was also in the storey-and-a-half home when the
fire broke out at about 2:30 p.m.

Police sources said when firefighters got inside the home, they
discovered a small hydroponic marijuana grow operation hidden in the
cramped attic. The Shar-Pei was turned over to the Winnipeg Humane
Society and city animal control services staff were still looking for
the Rottweiler last night.

Fire officials estimated damage at $100,000, which included $40,000 to
the home's contents. The arson task force was also investigating the
fire's cause.

A police spokesman said investigators had yet to speak with the home's
owners.

Neighbours said a young couple lived in the six-room, 833-square-foot
home for a couple of years.

They described them as being quiet, but having a lot of visitors.