A fire broke out on a property in Rainbow Wednesday and damaged two greenhouse structures housing marijuana grow operations.
North County Fire Captain Bradshaw said the fire started in a greenhouse on a property on 5th Street at around noon and spread to a second greenhouse and surrounding vegetation.
The fire area reeked of burning marijuana and one neighbor told NBC 7 pot plants were growing in the two greenhouses.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department confirmed several marijuana plants were found in the burned greenhouses.
The DEA confirmed a Narcotics Task Force made up of local law enforcement and DEA agents seized more than 1,200 marijuana plants from surrounding greenhouses that weren't damaged by the fire.
A DEA spokesperson said that it is common for marijuana growers to use non-permitted electrical systems that can overload circuits and start fires.
No arrests were made, the spokesperson said. The task force is still investigating.
Local
Firefighters were battling the small blaze by land and air until they were called off due to an electrical line hazard, North County Fire Captain Bradshaw said.
San Diego Gas & Electric was called to the fire to depower the lines.
Neighbors told NBC 7 the flames roared up to 12 feet in the air and were creeping towards their homes.
"I called 911 and told them the place was on fire," Pat Rossetti said. "I hosed it down as best I could cause it wouldn't reach the backyard."
One firefighter was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
No other information was available.
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