A cannabis factory was discovered when fire crews were called to a house fire in Swindon.
Wiltshire Police has launched an investigation after the find in Beatrice Street, Gorse Hill, at approximately 9.30pm last night (26 January).
Firefighters extinguished the fire at the ground floor of a mid-terraced property, which caused severe damage, but everyone was accounted for and neighbours were evacuated.
When in the property, a cannabis factory running over two floors and containing approximately 100 cannabis plants has been discovered.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation but is not being treated as suspicious at this stage and a cordon remains in place.
Insp Ben Huggins said: “The building has been made safe and I would like to thank the fire service in ensuring this didn’t end in tragedy.
“I’d also like to thank the local community for their patience and cooperation during the disruption this has caused, with neighbours having to be evacuated for their own safety and the road being closed temporarily.
“A detailed investigation has begun to establish how this cannabis factory was set up and who was responsible, and there will be a police presence in the area while this continues.
“We would like to hear from anyone in the local area who may have seen any suspicious activity at the property or have any information on the occupants to come forward and speak to us.”
Anyone with information should call the force on 101, quoting log 301 of 26 January. Officers would particularly like to hear from anyone who has CCTV in the local area.
A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to Beatrice Street, Gorse Hill, Swindon at 9.19pm last night for a fire on the ground floor of a mid-terraced property.
“Four crews attended, from Swindon (x2), Stratton and Westlea, and eight breathing apparatus wearers used two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire, which caused severe damage.
“Everyone from the property was accounted for, and our stop was at 11.45pm. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.”
South Western Ambulance Service also attended the incident, but no one needed to be taken to hospital.
“We sent an operations officer and a double-crewed land ambulance and did not convey anyone to hospital”, a spokesperson said.
