A warehouse fire in Pacific, Washington over Memorial Day weekend led police to uncover an illegal marijuana growing operation containing more than 1,000 plants, hazardous chemicals, an illegal power connection, and four bear traps placed outside the entrances, posing a direct danger to the first responders who arrived to fight the fire.
Crews were called to the warehouse on Stewart Road Southwest during the holiday weekend. Upon arrival, they discovered marijuana plants growing inside the facility alongside hazardous chemicals and multiple building and fire code violations. The operation appeared to be illegally drawing power from an outside source. After obtaining a search warrant, officers seized over 1,000 marijuana plants from the main unit. A search of a second unit within the same warehouse yielded several hundred additional plants.
The bear traps found outside the entrances were of particular concern to investigators, who noted they posed a serious risk to anyone approaching the building, including emergency responders who had no warning of the hazard before entering the property.
No one was found inside the warehouse during the fire, and there were no reported victims. Police are actively working with property management representatives as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pacific Police Department at 253-929-1130 or email Sergeant Tanner Knutsen at tknutsen@pacificwa.gov.
