A blaze broke out early Sunday morning in a residential apartment complex in the Ocean Beach area, leading to the discovery of a suspected marijuana grow room. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) was called to the scene at 4829 Orchard Avenue after reports of a structure fire, according to FOX 5 KUSI. Firefighting units arrived promptly, tackling the smoke and flames billowing from the first floor of the two-story building.
Battalion Chief Mark Reece explained, "Crews arrived to find smoke and fire from the first floor of a two-story apartment complex. Crews attacked the fire, containing it to just one room, but they also — during this fire attack — discovered a possible grow facility, a marijuana grow, in the room." This unexpected discovery prompted them to call a HAZMAT team to evaluate potential hazards. The incident, logged by the SDFD's official incident report portal SDFDPub, drew a substantial response. Included in the effort were 34 personnel, ranging from fire trucks and engines to a dedicated fire investigator, tackling the incident that was reported at 6:38 a.m. and concluded just before midday.
The residents were compelled to evacuate, standing by as firefighters assessed and managed the situation. Fortunately, despite the potential for more severe outcomes, no injuries were reported in the incident. The response effort included elements from various corners of the firefighting apparatus—two trucks, a supporting agency, four engines, a light and air unit, two battalion chiefs, and a medic, among those listed in the official incident summary.
As firefighters contained the blaze, ensuring it did not spread beyond its origin, the operation spanned several hours to secure the safety of the building. The apartment was declared safe, and the displaced individuals could only speculate when their return might be permissible. Reece told FOX 5 KUSI, "crews are expected to remain at the scene for a few hours to ensure the apartment building is safe and secured."
