Watch CBS News

House Fire Turns Into Drug Investigation

DENVER (CBS4)- What started as a house fire turns into a drug investigation when firefighters discover large amounts of marijuana inside.

Officers pulled out box after box of marijuana from the home on Grove Street just west of Federal Boulevard after firefighters extinguished the flames.

pot house fire
(credit: CBS)

"My wife came home at noon, we had been smelling smoke for almost 12 hours," said Linda Engle's husband.

GROVE GROW FIRE 5PKG_frame_926
(credit: CBS)

She was cleaning her kitchen when she first saw the flames, "I heard a big 'Pop!' and at the same time saw a big flame run right up the side of the wall."

GROVE GROW FIRE 5PKG_frame_146
(credit: CBS)

"So I ran out and grabbed our hose and started dousing the back fence and the car port while he called 911," said Engle.

RELATED STORIES: Marijuana Legalization Story Archive

GROVE GROW FIRE 5PKG_frame_1136
(credit: CBS)

Neighbor Mike Bogner also rushed to help, "So then I went around and kicked in the door because I know they have pets and looked inside to see if I could find anything."

GROVE GROW FIRE 5VO(MAP)_frame_944
(credit: CBS)

A firefighter rescued the cat.

GROVE GROW FIRE 5PKG_frame_356
(credit: CBS)

After fire crews had put out the fire, officers took out several boxes of marijuana from the home. A tenant who wasn't home at the time of the fire was interviewed by the head of the Denver Police Marijuana Unit.

GROVE GROW FIRE 5PKG_frame_656
(credit: CBS)

"You come out on your back patio and you smell your neighbors smoking marijuana it seems to be a Denver occurrence now so you assume everybody got it legally."

GROVE GROW FIRE 5PKG_frame_1645
(credit: CBS)

Police have not confirmed whether anyone was cited for what was found inside.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.