Two People Died After A Medical Weed Grow-Op Caught On Fire

Two people were killed after a fire started in a Surrey house with a medical weed grow-up Monday.

According to Global News, firefighters were called to the home early Monday morning where they found a fire and heavy smoke. One person got out safely, and rescuers managed to save another one, but the two people in the basement died.

Investigators told Global the fire is not suspicious but they believe it was caused by electrical equipment used to grow weed.

In 2014, the Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC claimed grow lamps used in grow-ops were the cause of 36 fires over an eight-year period.

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At the time, a government submission attempting to shut down a Federal Court injunction that allowed medical cannabis patients to grow at home stated: “Given that marijuana growing operations require the use of high-powered lights that are not designed for residential home use, and the fact that marijuana plants require 12-18 hours of light a day, it is not surprising that these operations would face an increased risk of fire.”

Both Surrey RCMP and the city’s fire chief Len Garis have been vocal about their concerns around grow-ops in the past, citing things like unsafe set-ups and a lack of inspections as problems.

But Alex Rea, vice-president of Homegrown Hydroponics, a firm that specializes in teaching people how to grow cannabis, told VICE stories like this tend to get sensationalized by those who simply don’t want to see Canadians grow weed at home.

“The claim that home growing leads to an increased risk of fire, mold, and organized crime element was not substantiated in court,” he said.

Although the federal government’s Cannabis Act says Canadians will be allowed to grow four plants at home, Quebec and Manitoba has banned home grows outright.

Rea told VICE most of the electrical equipment sold by hydroponics stores is certified internationally. However, he said any electrical equipment can be dangerous if not used properly.

“It’s easy to turn public opinion with a story like this,” he said.

“This is a terrible tragedy and the timing is unfortunate, as some Senators seek an amendment to #c45 to remove non-medical home growing rights. I guarantee you this will be brought up in committee next week,” tweeted Ottawa-based cannabis lawyer Trina Fraser in response to the Surrey fire story.

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