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London, Ontario - A chimney fire led police to a marijuana-growing operation in the basement of a London home where two youths were found. Two young teens were taken to Children's Hospital of Western Ontario to be checked for minor smoke inhalation and a man has been charged after the chimney fire at 1332 Highbury Ave. N.
London firefighters were called to the home shortly before 9:30 p.m. Friday by a cellphone caller.
The chimney fire started in the fireplace and burned through the floor nearby. After putting the fire out, firefighters told police they'd found a marijuana- growing operation in the basement.
"It's certainly disturbing," police Const. Mark Elgersma said of children being in the home. "This information will certainly be passed on to the Children's Aid Society."
The home did have a smoke alarm, but the blaze caused about $80,000 damage.
Police searched the house Friday night and seized 56 marijuana plants worth more than $50,000, a 20-gram bag of dried marijuana and $4,000 worth of equipment.
"You'd have a hard time convincing anyone this was for personal use," Elgersma said of the drugs seized.
Elgersma said he was not sure if the teenagers lived at the home, but said the incident illustrates the potential dangers of illegal grow operations.
"It's not safe to have a growing operation in your house, especially when there are children there."
Charged with possession and production of marijuana is Marc Norris, 33.
Source: The London Free Press
Copyright: The London Free Press
Contact: mailto:feedback@lfpress.com
Website: London Free Press
London firefighters were called to the home shortly before 9:30 p.m. Friday by a cellphone caller.
The chimney fire started in the fireplace and burned through the floor nearby. After putting the fire out, firefighters told police they'd found a marijuana- growing operation in the basement.
"It's certainly disturbing," police Const. Mark Elgersma said of children being in the home. "This information will certainly be passed on to the Children's Aid Society."
The home did have a smoke alarm, but the blaze caused about $80,000 damage.
Police searched the house Friday night and seized 56 marijuana plants worth more than $50,000, a 20-gram bag of dried marijuana and $4,000 worth of equipment.
"You'd have a hard time convincing anyone this was for personal use," Elgersma said of the drugs seized.
Elgersma said he was not sure if the teenagers lived at the home, but said the incident illustrates the potential dangers of illegal grow operations.
"It's not safe to have a growing operation in your house, especially when there are children there."
Charged with possession and production of marijuana is Marc Norris, 33.
Source: The London Free Press
Copyright: The London Free Press
Contact: mailto:feedback@lfpress.com
Website: London Free Press
