Tripped Fire Alarm in Eastvale Reveals Large Scale Marijuana Grow

EASTVALE- After responding to a fire alarm at an unoccupied residence, Eastvale Fire Department personnel discovered a massive marijuana growing operation.

The fire revealed a large scale marijuana growing operation

On Saturday, January 26 at 12:05 p.m., Sheriff’s Deputies arrived on scene at the 6500 block of Gladiola Street to assist the Fire Department with an alarm. The fire alarm was sounding from the second story of the residence, but no one appeared to be at home. After getting no response at the door, fire personnel decided to enter the home to do a welfare check. Upon entering a second floor window, it was discovered that the entire residence had been transformed into a large scale marijuana grow.

Riverside Sheriff’s Deputies assigned to the Eastvale Special Enforcement Team assumed the investigation at this point, obtaining a search warrant to enter the residence. At 8:30 p.m. Deputies served the warrant and proceeded to discover an astounding number of plants. According to a statement made by Sergeant Andrew Elia, Deputies removed 826 mature marijuana plants, 170 immature marijuana plants, and 40 pounds of processed marijuana. Authorities estimated the street value of the marijuana to be over $900,000.

The Sheriffs department is looking for the operators who were working "off the grid" - stealing power from So Cal Edison

Southern California Edison also investigated at the scene, discovering that electricity had been illegally diverted from a meter to power the operation. This diversion of electricity created a major fire hazard. The utility theft was estimated at more than $3,100 of electricity a month.

Eastvale is a town in Riverside County between Norco and Chino. Anyone with information about this incident may contact Deputy J. Morando at the Jurupa Valley Station at 951-955-2600.

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CBS Los Angeles: Fire Alarm Leads To Discovery Of Large-Scale Marijuana Grow In Eastvale