A heating unit used to grow marijuana started a fire in the attic of a Noblesville home on Aug. 29.
Division Chief Rick Russell said firefighters were dispatched to a possible kitchen fire at 3211 Westfield Rd. at 9:50 p.m. The home owner, Bruce Cornelius, told officials he was on the couch when he heard something in the attic space. Cornelius stated he could see a glow above the ceiling. He tried to extinguish the fire before help arrived but was unsuccessful.
At 9:56 p.m., firefighters arrived to discover smoke coming from the eaves of the home. Russell said fire crews made entry into the home to discover a fire in the attic space above one of the bedrooms. It took approximately 25 minutes before the fire was extinguished.
Russell stated the fire originated in the area of a heating element and exhaust unit that was used in a marijuana growing operation. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Dept. removed approximately 30 plants from the home.
The fire has caused approximately $139,000 in damages. Russell stated the fire was ruled accidental and caused no injuries.
