SF Fires Blamed on MJ Gardens

This is similar to what is happening in Humboldt, with diesel pot growers
destroying homes and property, plus causing enviro hazards. It's a good case
for registration and licensing, as scary as that is with feds at the door.

E.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/03/13/BAGQ0BOQHA1.DTL
Matier and Ross
San Francisco Chronicle
3/13/05

Growing green: That suspected arson and explosion at a home in San
Francisco's Ingleside neighborhood the other day that led to the discovery
of $300,000 worth of marijuana plants is just the tip of a very big -- and
very green -- iceberg.

Just a few weeks back, you might recall, an electrical fire at another home
out in the Sunset led to the discovery of $2.2 million worth of marijuana
plants.

In fact, over the past year and a half, San Francisco police say they have
raided rented homes on a monthly basis -- mostly out in the avenues -- and
discovered many other crops of marijuana being grown.

We're talking thousands of plants filling every room of a house, with holes
punched through the walls to provide better watering, ventilation and
lighting.

It's been quite a shock to absentee landlords who rented out their income
properties expecting a nice rent check in the mail.

"Now they find their house is destroyed, and there is no insurance (to cover
the damage),'' says Capt. Tim Hettrich, head of the vice unit. "They're
taking $25,000 baths.''

Not that the illegal activity should come as that much of a surprise to
anyone who spends time in these neighborhoods. Hettrich says there are
telltale signs -- such as windows covered with cardboard.

The evidence was a bit more dramatic in the latest case out on Vienna
Street, where an apparently disgruntled drug customer hurled something
combustible at the garage door.

It didn't do much damage because behind the door was a sliding iron gate --
shut and padlocked.