An investigation into a house fire Wednesday in Volusia County ended with firefighters discovering a marijuana grow operation, deputies said.
The fire at 519 W. Kingway Drive, in Deltona, was first reported around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, said Andrew Grant, a spokesman for the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
The house sustained heavy damage before the flames were extinguished.
While firefighters and investigators with the State Fire Marshal's Office were trying to determine the cause of the fire, they discovered several marijuana plants and cultivation equipment.
Deputies detained the resident, 40-year-old Francisco L. Quintana Jr., as the Sheriff's Office's narcotics investigators responded to the home.
Investigators found two rooms converted into grow rooms. In a master bedroom closet, investigators found a black fabric tent with a grow light and 18 plants, ranging in size from 2 inches to 12 inches. They also found several bottles of chemicals used for growing marijuana in the master bathroom.
Two more black tents were set up in a bedroom, one used to grow plants (with seven roughly 2-foot-tall plants inside) and the other used to dry harvested marijuana. Also in the room was a bag of marijuana plant clippings, two electrical ballasts and an exhaust fan.
In all, investigators seized about 1,122 grams of cannabis plant buds and clippings, 27 plants in various stages of growth and various pieces of drug paraphernalia — like glass jars containing marijuana and a digital scale.
Quintana told investigators the marijuana was for personal use. He was arrested and charged with manufacturing in cannabis, possession of cannabis over 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Photos from the scene are expected to be released later Thursday, Grant said.