Fire reveals 474 pot plants inside Seattle restaurant
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- An electrical fire at a South Seattle restaurant uncovered hundreds of marijuana plants in the eatery’s basement.
Firefighters responded to the My Canh Restaurant in the 6000 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Way after a 911 caller reported black smoke pouring out of the building.
Once the smoke cleared, they found a large marjuana grow inside the restaurant's basement. There were 474 plants in all, investigators said, as well evidence that show the growers planned to add on.
"It is very dangerous to have marijuana grow in the basement of a public restaurant like that," said Lt. Michael Kebba of the Seattle Police Department's Narcotics Unit.
Police said the marijuana was being cultivated in a small storage area filled with lights and fan. They said the growers had bypassed a power meter and added so much load to the system that it overheated and sparked the fire.
"There were so many connections down there. It overloaded the conductors and heated 'em -- massive, massive, dangerous situation in there," said Jeff Joy of Seattle City Light.
The electrical fire knocked down power to the entire block. Service was restored shortly after 1:30 p.m.
No customers were inside when the blaze began burning. The investigation is ongoing.
Firefighters responded to the My Canh Restaurant in the 6000 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Way after a 911 caller reported black smoke pouring out of the building.
Once the smoke cleared, they found a large marjuana grow inside the restaurant's basement. There were 474 plants in all, investigators said, as well evidence that show the growers planned to add on.
"It is very dangerous to have marijuana grow in the basement of a public restaurant like that," said Lt. Michael Kebba of the Seattle Police Department's Narcotics Unit.
Police said the marijuana was being cultivated in a small storage area filled with lights and fan. They said the growers had bypassed a power meter and added so much load to the system that it overheated and sparked the fire.
"There were so many connections down there. It overloaded the conductors and heated 'em -- massive, massive, dangerous situation in there," said Jeff Joy of Seattle City Light.
The electrical fire knocked down power to the entire block. Service was restored shortly after 1:30 p.m.
No customers were inside when the blaze began burning. The investigation is ongoing.
Denise Whitaker looks fine