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Fire crews were battling a blaze in the basement of a house Saturday in Silverton when they discovered a large marijuana growing operation, officials said.
The 75-plant operation was completely destroyed by the fire, Marion County sheriffs spokeswoman Lt. Sheila Lorance said. Deputies seized about 4.5 pounds of packaged marijuana.
Fire crews arrived first to battle the blaze at the home in the 300 block of Monitor Road NE, Silverton fire prevention officer Lt. Ron Parvin said.
The homeowner, William Gilmer, 49, was taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the fire, Lorance said.
While on scene, they found dozens of marijuana plants.
They went in looking for fire and then discovered that and notified Marion County Sheriffs Office, Parvin said.
Sheriffs deputies Ryan Clarke and Nick Hunter went to investigate, calling in help from the sheriffs street-crimes unit.
They found 45 marijuana plants and an additional 30 starter plants, Lorance said.
They seized 47 small bags that each held an ounce of marijuana, 4 large bags of that each held 4 ounces of marijuana and a plastic container with 2 ounces of marijuana, Lorance said.
The approximate 4.5 pounds of dried marijuana has a street value of about $20,000, Lorance said. If all the plants were mature, the grow would could have yielded product worth about $65,000, she said.
Street-crimes detectives are continuing their investigation. The sheriffs office will likely recommend to the Marion County District Attorneys Office that Gilmer be charged with possession, delivery and manufacture of marijuana, Lorance said.
Firefighters have not yet determined what caused the fire that called them to the home. An estimate of the damage to the home was unavailable.
xx's to tt's.
Fire crews were battling a blaze in the basement of a house Saturday in Silverton when they discovered a large marijuana growing operation, officials said.
The 75-plant operation was completely destroyed by the fire, Marion County sheriffs spokeswoman Lt. Sheila Lorance said. Deputies seized about 4.5 pounds of packaged marijuana.
Fire crews arrived first to battle the blaze at the home in the 300 block of Monitor Road NE, Silverton fire prevention officer Lt. Ron Parvin said.
The homeowner, William Gilmer, 49, was taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the fire, Lorance said.
While on scene, they found dozens of marijuana plants.
They went in looking for fire and then discovered that and notified Marion County Sheriffs Office, Parvin said.
Sheriffs deputies Ryan Clarke and Nick Hunter went to investigate, calling in help from the sheriffs street-crimes unit.
They found 45 marijuana plants and an additional 30 starter plants, Lorance said.
They seized 47 small bags that each held an ounce of marijuana, 4 large bags of that each held 4 ounces of marijuana and a plastic container with 2 ounces of marijuana, Lorance said.
The approximate 4.5 pounds of dried marijuana has a street value of about $20,000, Lorance said. If all the plants were mature, the grow would could have yielded product worth about $65,000, she said.
Street-crimes detectives are continuing their investigation. The sheriffs office will likely recommend to the Marion County District Attorneys Office that Gilmer be charged with possession, delivery and manufacture of marijuana, Lorance said.
Firefighters have not yet determined what caused the fire that called them to the home. An estimate of the damage to the home was unavailable.
