Man arrested as fire breaks out in suspected attic cannabis farm

Police and the fire service were called to a blaze at a property in Branch Road in Burnley at around 7.35am on Thursday, after receiving reports of a fire.

Smoke was seen billowing from the windows of the end terrace, with people living in neighbouring homes told to evacuate.

The fire involved a suspected cannabis farm in the attic of the house, and was well alight when crews arrived.

A spokesperson for the fire service said: "At 7.35am on October 14, two fire engines from Burnley attended a domestic building fire on Branch Road, Burnley. 

"The fire was well alight when crews arrived. 

"Firefighters used four breathing apparatus and two hose reels to extinguish the fire. 

"Crews remained in attendance for around two and a half hours."

It is believed there were two people residing inside the property and one man, who also suffered burns to his arm, was arrested at the scene.

Neighbours Martyn and Nicole Green were forced to leave their home with their two young children, and were only allowed back into the property at 10.30am.

Mrs Green said: "I was fast asleep and Martyn ran up to get me and said there was a fire and all I could think about was my two babies.

"Luckily one of our neighbours took us in so we weren't out in the cold.

"We have a loft conversion and the smoke had come through into there.

"There's a bit of smoke damage but it smelled really bad, and we were advised not to let the kids sleep upstairs tonight.

"The lady next door was a bit shaken up as I think the fire service were banging on her front door for a while before they managed to wake her up by going round the back."

Mr and Mrs Green said they had suspected something might have been going on in the end terrace and when the police came and told them a cannabis farm had been found their suspicions were confirmed.

Mrs Green added: "We kind of suspected something. We don't really know the people living in the house and didn't really think anything of it until this happened and we saw the police."

Mr Green, said despite there being a lot of smoke he was able to remain relatively calm throughout the ordeal.

He said: "Nicole was panicking a bit, about the kids, but I managed to stay calm and just make sure we were all out ok. 

"We are really lucky that there's only a bit of smoke damage as it could've been so much worse."

Electricity North West were called to isolate the electricity in the property and along with the police are expected to be at the property for the rest of Thursday.

A spokesperson for the police said: "We were called at 7.53am to a cannabis farm at a house on Branch Road in Burnley.

"One male was arrested at the scene."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police on 101 quoting log number 0221 of October 14.