This time it’s not a child or a kitten being heroically rescued from a fire, but a weed harvest. Firefighters in Humboldt were able to save a drying cannabis harvest when they responded to put out a fire in a burning building in Redway. What class acts; firefighters risk their lives to come save your buildings from fire and even rescue your weed!

Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties compose Northern California’s famous Emerald Triangle, one of the top cannabis producing areas in the United States. Fire crew members were likely not surprised to find the weed in the building. Two valid medical cannabis recommends were posted on a tree near the building; fortunate because the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department made a brief appearance at the fire site.

Luckily the firefighters were able to save the cannabis before the flames got to them (unlike Texas firefighters several years back who spent half an hour fighting a blaze in which 2,000 pounds of cannabis were set aflame). When there are enough men available on site, crews will do their best to salvage items that may be valuable to residents.

“If there is anything of value–computers, pictures–if we have extra personnel, they’ll start taking out anything to protect it from damage” explained Fire Battalion Chief Marty Hobbs, who was at the scene of the fire. “It is still there,” said Hobbs referring to the harvest, “and it is going to be there when we leave.”

Although stoners may begin feeling emotional upon hearing the news of this heartwarming rescue, saving the greens was not the top priority for the fire crew. Fire Battalion Chief Marty Hobbs explained that the cannabis harvest was a hinderance to the crew as they were working and they were getting it out of the way.

The low hanging cannabis made it difficult for firefighters to enter the building structure to find the source of the fire. Fire crew members spread out a tarp on the ground and began piling on armfuls of cannabis until it had been cleared. The cause of the fire is still under investigation but according to Chief Hobbs the fire started when a fan used for circulating air malfunctioned.

In regards to the condition of the herbs, Chief Hobbs admitted his lack of knowledge on the crop left him unable to comment on the condition of the salvaged cannabis, but he mentioned that a local (presumably someone more familiar with the plant) explained to him that the harvest was salvageable. Thank goodness!