Firefighters Stumble Upon Illegal Marijuana Grow House In Rural Josephine County While Putting Out Blaze

JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. — Josephine County Rural Metro (JMET) firefighters responding to a fire in an industrial building in the 300 block of Merlin Avenue on Monday discovered the commercial building was being used as an indoor Marijuana grow house.

After the fire was extinguished, over 1,300 marijuana plants that survived the fire were destroyed after evidence was photographed.

When JMET  made the discovery, they obtained and executed a search warrant for the premises. Evidence was photographed, and over 1,300 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed.

State Fire Marshals called to investigate the exact origin and cause of the fire and determined it was caused by manipulating the electrical service to bypass the electrical meter to supply power to grow illegally.

Charges of Arson Incident to the Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Manufacturing of Marijuana, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, Unlawful Appropriation of Water, Theft, and Criminal Mischief were laid.

The investigation is ongoing, and JMET asked anyone with information on this case to call the JMET tip line at 541-474-5252.