Pubdate: Fri, 22 Feb 2002
Source: Daily News, The (CN NS)
Copyright: 2002 The Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/halifax/dailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/179
Author: Beth Johnston

FIREFIGHTERS DOUSE BASEMENT GRASS FIRE

The fragrance of marijuana smoke hung over a fire in a vacant Bedford house 
Wednesday afternoon.

A neighbour called 911 when he noticed smoke coming from the 820 Bedford 
Hwy. bungalow at 4:15 p.m.

Firefighters noticed the smell but waited to call police until they had the 
fire under control about an hour later. They discovered a marijuana growing 
operation in the basement of the house that they thought was vacant.

"You could smell it more after you went out and came back in. You could 
tell that there was marijuana there somewhere," said Halifax fire Chief Tim 
Bookholt.

The fire started in the basement and burned up through the living room, 
causing extensive damage, Bookholt said. Fire officials have yet to 
determine the cause.

Halifax Regional Police provided security at the house overnight Wednesday 
and seized evidence at the scene yesterday.

A Bedford numbered company owns the house; Taleb Abidali is listed as the 
company's president. Police said it has been used as a rental property.

Abidali did not return phone calls yesterday.

"We know who the owner of the house is and who rented it, and right now, 
it's a matter of interviewing those involved," said police spokesman Sgt. 
Don Spicer.

"Nobody was living there, but obviously the power was hooked up."

The fire interrupted rush-hour traffic when emergency vehicles shut down 
one lane of the Bedford Highway for about an hour.
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MAP posted-by: Beth