Fire burns marijuana grow operation

SEATTLE — A fire started at a marijuana grow operation in South Seattle early Friday.

The flames started just after 2 a.m. at a building on West Marginal Way Highland Park Way Southwest.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from a small room at the United States Seafoods Building.

Inside was a marijuana grow operation. Police are investigating as to whether it is legal.

Reporter Nick McGurk asked Seattle fire Battalion Chief Benjamin Haskell how firefighters deal with smoke from burning pot plants.

“All smoke is highly toxic and so we go in with self-contained breathing apparatus. So the smoke from the grow operation doesn’t provide additional hazard. The primary hazard that we face tonight, in addition to the smoke and fire, was the electrical hazard in the building,” said Haskell.

The cause of the fire appears to be electrical.

No one was injured.

Cox Media Group