Marijuana-growing operation discovered after San Bernardino fire

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- A marijuana-growing operation was to blame for a commercial building fire in San Bernardino Sunday, firefighters said.

San Bernardino city firefighters rushed to the blaze at a structure in the 900 block of South Arrowhead Avenue at about 6:45 p.m. Authorities say they discovered a vacant commercial building with smoke coming out of the front office building, according to Nathan Cooke, a battalion chief with the San Bernardino Fire Department.

Inside the front office, firefighters discovered more than 1,000 marijuana plants.

The fire was knocked down within 10 minutes. The blaze was caused by an electrical shortage in the wall. The occupants allegedly bypassed an electrical meter and overloaded the system in order to grow the marijuana.

No injuries were reported. No one was in the building at the time of the fire.

The investigation is ongoing.