By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A FORMER cannabis crop house in Noble Park was significantly damaged by a suspicious fire yesterday morning.
Acting Detective Sergeant Luke Kirton, of Greater Dandenong crime investigation unit, said a neighbour heard a loud explosion and noticed fire coming from the roof of single-storey brick veneer house at Buckley Street about 3.50am.
He said the dwelling was vacant and no longer used as a crop house at the time of the suspicious fire.
‘‘There was nothing smashed inside or anything to suggest the house was broken into,’’ Detective Kirton said.
In September, Greater Dandenong tasking unit police seized 327 plants growing hydroponically in eight rooms of the house.
Police estimated at the time the plants had a wholesale value of more than $1million. The crop’s street value would be much more.
‘‘The house previously had an extensive hydroponic set-up,’’ Detective Kirton said.
‘‘At the time of the fire, there were remnants of the set-up but it was just old stuff.’’
Yesterday, Springvale, Dandenong and Noble Park brigades hosed the fire from the outside because sections of the roof were collapsing into the house, CFA spokesman Keith Pakenham said.
‘‘As some rooms were opened they were found to contain an extensive network of hydroponics and wiring .
‘‘Once the fire was contained it was confirmed there were no occupants in the house and the police started their investigations into the contents.’’
