Police Arrest 2 At Marijuana Grow House Damaged By 3-Alarm Antioch Fire
ANTIOCH (CBS SF) -- One of the homes charred Saturday by a fire in Antioch happened to be housing a marijuana grow operation, according to police.
Although the grow operation had nothing to do with the cause of a 3-alarm fire reported at 4:36 p.m. Saturday in the 900 block of Burwood Way, the discovery of it led to two suspects being arrested, according to police.
Police officers were helping Contra Costa County Fire Protection District crews by evacuating residents to protect them from the blaze, which ended up destroying one home and damaging three others.
While evacuating homes threatened by the fire, officers found a marijuana grow operation that was being run by two 24-year-old men, according to police.
More than 700 pot plants were later determined to be growing in the home. The plants and more than 17 pounds of manicured marijuana buds were confiscated, police said.
The two men, identified by police as Qiao Cen and Qiaohui Cen, were arrested on suspicion of various drug offenses.
Fire officials have said that Saturday's fire was caused when a person discarded a cigarette that was still burning.
The person could potentially face criminal charges after further investigation, according to fire officials.
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