Garage Fire Leads to Discovery of Marijuana Grow House

Firefighters knocked down a garage fire in Tujunga on Thursday morning and discovered a marijuana grow operation that involved an estimated 200 plants, authorities said.

The fire at 10610 N. Wilsey Ave. inside an unattached garage was reported at 12:53 a.m., according to the fire department. The fire was knocked down at 1:35 a.m. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters discovered a marijuana grow operation on the property when they were putting out the fire, according to the fire department. The operation was reported to Los Angeles police.

“The whole house and garage were converted into a marijuana grow,” explained LAPD Sgt. Frank Alfrez, watch commander at the LAPD’s Foothill Division. “There were about 200 plants on the property and they had a whole set-up with lights there inside the house and garage.”

Alfrez said there have been no arrests made since there were no people at the location. Narcotics detectives were at the scene and trying to contact the owner of the property, he said.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation, but Alfrez said it looks like it was an electrical problem that sparked the flames.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock