SoCal storage fire leads to pot bust

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POINT LOMA, Calif., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A two-alarm industrial fire outside San Diego helped investigators locate a clandestine pot-growing facility, fire officials said.

Firefighters were called to an industrial fire alarm in Point Loma Sunday evening that involved four structures. A machine shop and an auto body shop were the most heavily damaged of the four. A storage facility containing signs and other items for SeaWorld amusement park was also damaged.

A fourth structure appeared to be an empty office complex. Inside, police said they found a "somewhat extensive" marijuana growing operation, U-T San Diego reported.

Police are investigating who ran the pot growing operation.

Fire officials said the blaze likely started due to an electrical problem and that no one was on site when the fire began. Damage was estimated at $500,000 between all four structures, they said.