Firefighters were called to a home on Greenfield Drive in Hudson, New Hampshire on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 around 2 p.m. Fortunately, the 63 year old owner of the home was able to escape, along with his cat and his dog. Also fortunately, the firefighters were able to control the fire, limiting the damage to the home and other homes in the area.
Un-fortunately, the fire was caused by the overheating of a heat lamp. One wonders if the heat lamp was being used properly, or if it was being used beyond what it’s instructions said were the safest way and length of time to use it. Heat lamps are often used for a number of reasons, for the care and upbringing of lizards and other reptiles, for instance. It must have been a frightening experience for the man, and he must be glad that it happened at 2 p.m. and not 2 a.m. when he might have been asleep and overcome with smoke – he and his beloved pets. Maybe he will contact the company that made the heat lamp to see if it’s really their fault that it happened.
Unfortunately, the fire wasn’t the end of the story for this 63 year old man. He was using the heat lamp in order to grow marijuana. Firefighters called the police when they discovered a hydroponic growing system in the home. Police executed a search warrant and found an entire cultivation operation in the basement where the fire started and another growing system out in the man’s shed.
Further investigation turned up 13 plants, 3.8 pounds of marijuana, seven rifles and two handguns! The man lost another 40 plants in the fire. It must have been an even more frightening experience to have to call firefighters to the home when he knew that he had illegal substances in his home and was about to be called to judgement on them. No doubt it was sad to lose the 40 plants and the setup also.
The police arrested the homeowner and charged him with manufacturing a controlled narcotic drug, possession of a controlled drug with the intent to distribute (there was far too much there for just personal use) and felony in possession of a firearm. He is being held on $100,000 bail and was to be arraigned two days later.
