Harris County fire uncovers complex marijuana operation 200 marijuana plants found at Harris County warehouse

Authorities discovered about 200 marijuana plants at a north Harris County warehouse while putting out a small fire at the facility Monday afternoon, officials said.

Harris County sheriff's deputies and a local fire department responded to a call about a possible electrical fire at a warehouse in the 15300 block of Chaplin around 2 p.m, said Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. John Legg.

When authorities arrived at the warehouse — described as a three-bay mechanical garage — a key holder let them onto the fenced-in property, where firefighters located and extinguished a small smoldering fire on a power supply box on the exterior of the building, Legg said.

Firefighters wanted to check inside the building to ensure that nothing else was smoldering, but the key holder was reluctant to let them inside, Legg said.

Eventually, the man did. As authorities entered, he left.

"They turned around and he was gone," Legg said.

Inside, authorities found about 200 potted marijuana plants along with a greenhouse system that included special heating and insulation, grow lights and an internal irrigation system, Legg said.

A canine unit was called to check for narcotics in a second warehouse on the property, Legg said. Both warehouses use the same electrical feed, he said. Legg said authorities also were trying to obtain a search warrant.

Neighbors told investigators the second warehouse had just recently been built.

``Fortunately, we discovered this operation in the early stages,'' Legg said.

Investigators were trying to locate the property owner. No charges had been filed.