[UPDATE 5:55 P.M.] Structure Fire at ‘Grow House’ in Manila

Update 5:55 P.M.: The following press release and photos are from the Arcata Fire Protection District:

Click to view the photos:

Manila, CA- (June 11, 2015)- 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.

Originally:

Screenshot from Google Maps.

Scanner traffic indicates fire crews are at a structure fire on near Melvin Avenue and Victor Boulevard in Manila. Voices over the scanner said one room of the building was involved. Fire crews at the scene said a subject was initially being uncooperative, and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has been requested to respond. However, the person is now cooperating.

Additionally, fire crews responded to a structure fire on the 1300 block of E street in Eureka after 2 p.m. today. Scanner traffic indicated the fire was started by a malfunctioning microwave.

We will update this post when more information becomes available.

UPDATE 2:56 P.M.: A voice over the scanner said about the Manila fire that it’s a “reported grow house with an uncooperative individual inside.”

UPDATE 3:10 P.M.: A CHP tweet says the fire is on the 1700 block of Laurel Drive:

Report of Fire @ 1738 Laurel Dr http://t.co/rsfRUxSbI6

— HumCo CHP Incidents (@HumboldtCHP) June 11, 2015

[Note: Scanner reports are not always as first indicated.]