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Marijuana grow believed to be cause of McKinleyville house fire
The Times-Standard
Article Launched: 09/07/2008 01:27:39 AM PDT
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_10403380

Faulty electrical equipment is believed to have caused a McKinleyville house fire that caused an estimated $75,000 in damages and gutted the residence, which was reportedly partly converted for marijuana cultivation.

Arcata Fire District personnel responded to the fire in the 3800 block of Central Avenue shortly before 5 p.m. Friday after passersby reported seeing large amounts of black smoke pouring from doors and windows and fire coming from the front of the house, according to a press release.

As additional personnel arrived, attack crews entered the house and extinguished the blaze, but ran into a bit of trouble in the rooms that had been converted for marijuana grows, according to the release. Several firefighters became entangled in wires and burned ventilation tubing, according to the release, but were able to free themselves using self-rescue techniques.

According to the release, the incident highlights the dangers posed to firefighters when fighting a fire in a house used for grow operations.

One resident of the house was home during the blaze, but escaped without injury, according to the release.