FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING BLAZE IN HOME FIND MARIJUANA PLANTS

Firefighters sent to battle a blaze at a Van Nuys home found hundreds of
marijuana plants inside. One person was arrested, police said.

Called to the home in the San Fernando Valley shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday,
firefighters put out a blaze in a garage, where they spotted the plants and
notified police, who sent a narcotics unit.

Several hundred plants "ranging from seedling size to approximately 5 feet
tall" were found in the detached garage at the rear of the home, officer
Jason Lee said.

The man who was arrested was not immediately released.

No injuries were reported, said Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.

The fire, which caused an estimated $35,000 damage to the garage and some
outbuildings, was attributed to "illegal wiring used to power a hydroponic
farm," Humphrey said.

In hydroponic farming, no soil is needed.