SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Aug. 18, 2009
Pot Growers Sought in Calif. Wildfire
Thousands of Marijuana Plants Found Near Remote Origin of Fire; Assault Rifle Also Recovered
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Marijuana growers may have caused this wildfire with cooking equipment near a remote encampment, investigators say. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Investigators found about 30,000 marijuana plants near the origin of the fire in a remote canyon. An assault rifle was recovered at the campsite.
U.S. Forest Service Special Agent Russ Arthur said Tuesday that a cooking device at an encampment was responsible for the fire, which has burned more than 137 square miles.
Arthur says it's the first time in Santa Barbara County a wildfire has been caused by drug trafficking.
He says there are typically three to four small fires each year in California that are started by similar activity.
The fire is one of several scorching the state during the past week.
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- This must be good reason number 79 for legalizing and regulating the marijuana industry.
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- U.S.A. Government and its politicians. Keep up the fight of marijuana prohibition. We need to throw tax dollars into a facade of jobs for our proud nation. Spend, spend, spend protecting our morals, youths, and God from something that won't hurt them, but we can't let them know this.
We (DEA, police, correction officers, laywer and the alike) make millions and millions of dollars by maintaing the "status quo" of marijuana! Not only do we make money pharmaceuticaland, insurance, and alcohol companies benefit dearly from keeping this plant illegal!
America politicians I pray everyday you keep the hand of hate, racism, and corporate power upon the American people. They are stupid and igorant and couldn't handle being truly free, we must have our elected officials oversee every part of our lives, because we are uncapable to manage our own lives!
Plus now, we can hire and and throw more money into the Forest Service to fight fires brought on to our Nation by the Black Market marijuana brings to our lovely nation. Go forest fire fighters ejnoy more money from Uncle Sam.
Remember tell MARIJUANA PROHIBITION "thank you" next time you go to the bank! We didn't need those house and trees anyways. - Reply to this comment
- They're already back in Mexico, so they can come back here in a week or two. Then they'll get food stamps and government assistance to buy alchohol and drive drunk, probably hit and kill someone then flee the scene. Then, if it gets too hot, they'll return to Mexico and start the cycle over again.
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- Those six marijuana growers were probably just doing the jobs most that Americans won't do.
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- The US Government is a real joke. They fail in just about everything except giving themselfs raises.
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Gen. Ray Odierno, head of multinational forces in Iraq, on progress there and plans for Afghanistan.
