UPDATED: Police estimate value of marijuana growing operation to be $231,000

Renton police continue to investigate a large marijuana growing operation discovered after a fire at a residential home revealed the plants on the morning of July 4.

By Brian Beckley • July 9, 2014 5:32 pm
A look at one of the six grow rooms at a residential house on Lind Avenue Northwest.
A look at one of the six grow rooms at a residential house on Lind Avenue Northwest.

Renton police continue to investigate a large marijuana growing operation discovered after a fire at a residential home revealed the plants on the morning of July 4.

According to Renton Police, the operation covered six rooms with a total of 454 plants.

The plants are valued at $231,000, based on the maturity of the plants discovered, which were in various stages of growth.

Renton Fire Department units were dispatched to the 300 block of Lind Avenue Northwest at about 7:55 a.m. Friday when a neighbor noticed dark smoke coming from a power meter mounted on the side of the house.

Firefighters attacked the fire and evacuated the occupants. As they did so, they discovered a large marijuana grow operation in the house.

The house’s electrical junction box had been rewired to feed the lights and ventilation supporting the grow, and this may have overloaded the electrical supply system.

Narcotics Detectives responded, and collected evidence at the scene.

As of Wednesday, no arrests have been made, but the investigation is still ongoing.