A husband and wife were arrested Monday following a fire in a Massachusetts home that police say was being used to grow more than 180 marijuana plants.
The fire started Sunday night on Herbert Street in Tewksbury and reached 3 alarms, destroying the structure.
Police said Thao Nguyen, 35, and Minh Phan, 36, were growing more than 180 marijuana plants in the home and have been charged with marijuana cultivation.
In addition to the marijuana, investigators said they found numerous heat lamps and an irrigation system.
The couple told investigators they didn't know marijuana was being grown in the basement. Police said they also found growing supplies in Phan's truck.
No one was injured in the fire; however, police said the family dog died from apparent smoke inhalation. The home is a total loss and the cause is still under investigation.
More information is expected to be released once search warrants have been executed.
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Meanwhile, a neighbor told NBC10 Boston that people had started to talk about a smell, but didn't know the source.
"I've heard people say that they could smell weed and stuff like that, but there are houses over there and we could never depict where it was coming from," Nicole Devoe said.
Bail was set at $5,000 for Phan and $400 for Nguyen during their arraignments at Lowell District Court Monday morning. Their next court date is July 27.
