Smethwick firefighters uncover secret cannabis factory as they fight house blaze
Hidden room containing drug plants found in space between living room floor and basement
Hidden room containing drug plants found in space between living room floor and basement
Shocked firefighters uncovered a secret room containing cannabis plants with a street value of several thousands of pounds when they fought a major blaze in the Black Country.
The plants were growing in a hidden space between the living room floor and the basement of the terraced house in Gladys Road, Smethwick. Fire crews had been called to a ‘severe fire’ in the property just before 1am this morning.
About 20 firefighters, including six wearing breathing apparatus, tackled the flames. Heavy smoke also escaped into the property next door.
However, no injuries were reported and all of the property’s occupants were accounted for.
A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: “Crews were initially alerted to a severe fire in a bedroom at the property.
“However, the source was isolated to the space between the floor of the ground floor room and the basement of the terraced home.”
Fire crews were at the scene for more than three hours before the blaze was extinguished.
A structural engineer was also called to inspect the building before it was given the all-clear for police to begin their investigations.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/smethwick-firefighters-uncover-secret-cannabis-8497380 22/01/2015
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