Marijuana Grow Operation Discovered in Burned Building, Redlands Police Say

Redlands firefighters found more than 400 marijuana plants and growing equipment inside a building that caught fire Wednesday afternoon on Tennessee Street, and police announced confiscation of the pot and one arrest on Thursday, according to a city spokesman.

A downed power line was reported shortly before 1:30 p.m. June 26 at a single-story building in the 500 block of Tennessee Street, Redlands spokesman Carl Baker said in a statement. 

"When firefighters arrived they found the power line burning a section of artificial turf about 1 to 2 feet in diameter in an area in front of the building," Baker said.

Firefighters used a fire extinguisher to put out the artificial turf fire and called Southern California Edison to respond for the downed line, Baker said.

"After the initial blaze was extinguished firefighters discovered smoke and flames coming from the building and called for a structure fire response," Baker said. "Entry to the building was delayed until Southern California Edison crews could cut power to the downed line."

The fire put out just before 2 p.m. When firefighters went into the structure, they discovered a marijuana growing operation with dedicated lighting and filtration systems, Baker said.

Redlands police responded and confiscated 474 marijuana plants and the growing equipment, Baker said.

"The plants potentially represent more than 200 pounds of finished product," Baker said.

Police arrested 26-year-old Jose Arnulfo Diaz, of Santa Ana, around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday on suspicion of cultivating marijuana. He was released on unspecified bail, according to inmate records.

The cause of the fire "was determined to be insufficient wiring for the electrical load of the building," Baker said Wednesday.

The fire damaged the building's façade and roof, Baker said. Preliminary estimates put the damage at $25,000 to $30,000. No injuries were reported.

Anyone with more info was urged to call Investigator Sid Jones at (909) 798-7659 or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681. Anonymous tipsters can text 274637 using the keyword "REDTIP." Some non-emergency crimes can be reported online at http://ci.redlands.ca.us/police/coplogic/start-report.html.