Homemade “Marijuana grow operation” causes major New Bedford fire, multiple injuries, kills 3 pets

Firefighters battled a large fire in a multifamily property in the south end of New Bedford on Thursday afternoon. The fire originated from the third floor unit and was caused by a homemade “marijuana growing operation”. The New Bedford Fire Department released the following statement regarding the situation.

“At 4:00pm today, multiple 911 calls were received reporting a structure fire at 30 Welcome Street. First arriving crews reported a well involved fire on the 3rd floor of this three-story wood frame dwelling. The structure contained five dwelling units. All of the tenants were able to evacuate due to a properly functioning fire alarm system.

Fire crews conducted interior fire attack along with protecting a two-story wood frame dwelling exposure building to the east of the fire building. A cantilevered roof section along the front porch roof collapsed as the fire spread above the third floor ceiling and extended through the roof. A PAR (personnel accountability report) was conducted prior to crews switching to exterior fire attack. Command orderd a second alarm response.

A resident of the third floor along with a second floor resident were both transported to St. Luke’s Emergency Department by NBEMS Paramedics. The third floor tenant was subsequently transported to Rhode Island Hospital Trauma Center. No firefighters were injured. Eight adults and one child were displaced and received assistance from the American Red Cross. Eight tenants of the two family exposure building were able to return to their home. The building sustained radiant heat damage to the exterior vinyl wall covering and windows.

The fire originated in the third floor east apartment. The cause of the fire is unintentional and was ignited during an illicit recreational marijuana grow operation. These residential grow operations cause frequent fires due to numerous sources of heat, overloaded electrical devices and wiring, and nearby combustibles and chemicals.

The tenant was asleep at the time of the fire and was awoken by his dog, Major. Major along with eight other pets were able to escape, three cats were missing, but later recovered. The cause of the fire was investigated by the NBFD Fire Investigation Unit and the State Fire Marshals Office.

NBPD, NBEMS, NBEMA, NB Animal Control, and the Providence Canteen provided assistance. Mutual aid assistance was received by Dartmouth District 1 and the Fairhaven Fire Department.”