Erith Cannabis Factory Blaze Ravages House and Neighbours
A violent fire ripped through a cannabis farm hidden in an Erith home yesterday, causing serious damage to the property and nearby houses. The blaze broke out around 4:30pm on Tuesday, February 20, sparking an urgent response from emergency services.
Massive Fire Crew Battles Intense Flames
Six fire engines and about 40 firefighters raced to the mid-terraced house on Riverdale Road after reports of a blaze. On arrival, crews found the property was secretly being used to grow cannabis plants.
The fire devoured most of the roof and gutted the entire first floor. Flames also damaged a section of the neighbouring property’s roof. Miraculously, no residents or firefighters were hurt in the inferno.
Fire Brigade Warns of Deadly Risks in Cannabis Factories
The london-fire.gov.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="London Fire Brigade" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">London Fire Brigade warned these fires are exceptionally dangerous. Crooks rig up unsafe electric wiring to steal power for their illicit grows, creating serious fire hazards. These rigs often spark electrical faults that can quickly engulf homes and spread to neighbours.
“Cannabis factory fires can be particularly dangerous because of the way criminals use unsafe wiring to illegally obtain electricity to grow the plants,” a fire brigade spokesperson explained. “They’re often in top floors or lofts which means when a fire takes hold it spreads, destroying roofs and damaging neighbouring buildings.”
Firefighters Use High-Tech Gear to Stamp Out Flames
The firefighting effort involved specialist equipment like the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladder to attack the blaze from all angles. Crews from Erith, Bexley, and Plumstead fire stations worked relentlessly to bring the fire under control.
After hours of battling the flames, firefighters declared the fire out at 6:29pm. Investigations continue into what caused the fire and who was behind the illegal cannabis operation.
The fire brigade urged the public to stay alert and report any suspicious activity to help prevent such dangerous fires in the future.
