Two Dogs Die in House Fire, Crews Discover Marijuana Grow

Alameda County firefighters found almost 50 marijuana plants after battling a two-alarm house fire that killed two dogs on Monday morning. 

Fire crews responded to the three-story home in the 200 block of Altamont Road at 9:56 a.m. 

According to the homeowner Ken Gee and his neighbors, an explosion preceded the fire. The explosion sent a cloud of smoke hundreds of feet into the air, which could be seen by crews as they were responding to the scene.

After running out of his house, Gee ran back in to find two of his seven dogs that were still inside. He found his mini-Doberman Pinscher, Lucky, but the dog became loose from Gee’s grasp and ran back into the house.

Lucky was found dead inside, and the other dog died later from its injuries. No one else was injured, according to authorities.

Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire in 50 minutes, and prevented it from spreading to the house next door.

After discovering dozens of marijuana plans in a lower level basement-type room, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office was called to investigate.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Fire Department Battalion Chief John Walsh said. 

According to Alameda County fire spokeswoman Aisha Knowles, Gee had not been arrested as of mid-Monday afternoon.