Firefighters put out an attic fire. Then they found a marijuana grow

A bad morning turned worse for a Meadowview couple when a house fire uncovered what police say was an illegal marijuana growing operation.

Sacramento Fire Department personnel found a large number of marijuana plants while putting out an attic fire at around 3:40 a.m. on the 2300 block of John Still Drive, spokesman Chris Harvey said. A man, woman and two children under the age of 12 were outside when firefighters arrived at the scene, Harvey said.

Both adults – Ratdavanh Phothisane, 38, and Pheap Man, 35 – were arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment, said Officer Eddie Macaulay, Sacramento Police Department spokesman. Phothisane and Man were being held in Sacramento County Jail ahead of their 1:30 p.m. arraignments Wednesday, with Phothisane’s bail set at $75,000 and Man’s set at $50,000.

Firefighters were investigating Monday’s incident as a possible electrical fire, Harvey said.

All first responders had left the scene by 7:30 a.m. Monday, when several children were walking to John H. Still middle and elementary schools across the street.

This story was originally published February 5, 2018 at 9:35 AM with the headline "Firefighters put out an attic fire. Then they found a marijuana grow."