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Photos: Jenny Williamson and Tom Dewey of the Arcata Fire District
UPDATE, 6:20 p.m.: Press release from the Arcata Fire District:
Just after 2:00 P.M. Arcata Fire District was dispatched to a structure fire at Victor Blvd. and Manila Road which turned out to be an incorrect location. When the Arcata fire crews arrived in the area a neighbor flagged down our first arriving engine and directed them to the 1700 block of Laurel Drive.
The first arriving engine reported a small amount of light grey/brown smoke coming from the front door of the structure and also reported a female going in and out of the burning structure and requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Department. The first engine assumed fire attack while the second arriving engine was assigned to establish a water supply and the third engine was assigned rapid intervention crew (RIC).
“Based on the items found in the structure which are consistent with a marijuana grow operation, we suspect this is a grow house” stated Fire Chief Desmond Cowan. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Arcata Fire District responded with four engines, three chief officers, eight career fire fighters, four volunteer fire fighters and two volunteer logistic members. Samoa Peninsula Volunteer Fire responded with one chief officer and an engine to assist on scene. Humboldt Bay Fire responded with an engine and a chief officer to provide coverage for the fire district. Blue Lake fire responded with an engine to assist with coverage in the McKinleyville area. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department responded to assist with logistics.
Arcata Fire District wants to remind residents to check your address on your home or business. You should have a visible address from the access road to your house or business. If we can’t find you, it will take us longer to help you.
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UPDATE, 3:08 p.m.:
Photos by Andrew Goff.
Responders have extinguished the blaze. The Outpost‘s Andrew Goff is on the scene and says he encountered a man (pictured below) who may be the property owner:
“When I tried to walk through the gate onto the property, where many of the firefighters were working, I was stopped by an older man with a long beard who told me if I went any further he would have me arrested,” Goff reported.
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Original post:
Photo submitted by Heather McKinney.
Emergency personnel responded to reports of a structure fire on the 1700 block of Laurel Drive in Manila shortly after 2 p.m. today. The structure is suspected to be a marijuana grow house, according to Arcata Fire’s Jenny Williamson.
In addition to Arcata Fire, Humboldt Bay Fire and the Samoa Peninsula Fire District also responded, as did officers from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. The Outpost’s Andrew Goff is on the scene and reports that the fire has now been contained. We’ll report more information as it comes in.
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