FIREFIGHTERS who were called to deal with a blaze at a house discovered around 100 cannabis plants as they searched the property for anyone inside.

Crews were called to Morris Street in Sutton on Monday (January 27) at 10.30pm after a suspected electrical fault caused the fire in a first floor bedroom.

It prompted a warning from emergency services that the farms that such drugs farms can pose a huge fire risk and potentially put the lives of fire crews in danger.

They had to work in dangerous conditions stop the blaze spreading to adjacent property.

Police said they were thankful no one was “killed or seriously injured” but warned the outcome could have been different.

Watch manager Mike Foster said: “Buildings where cannabis farms are located can pose a real risk to firefighters. There are entanglement hazards and at times electricity meters are bypassed.

“Firefighter worked well to tackle the fire and stop it spreading to an adjacent property. Power engines were also requested and isolated electricity supplies to the two storey building.

“If the safety measures on electricity supplies are bypassed then it can result not only in a fire starting which poses a risk to those who live nearby but also all metal in that building could be ‘live’ raising the risk of electrocution and posing extra dangers to the emergency services called to the site.”

Sergeant Jim Morgan from Merseyside Police's Cannabis Dismantling Team said: "Thankfully no one was injured or killed as a result of this fire but the outcome could have been very different.

"In this case, the fire was discovered and quickly put out. Growing drugs in this way could cause a fatal fire and I would ask landlords in particular to be vigilant of any suspicious activity in their properties.

"This case highlights the fact that cannabis factories can be anywhere. We would also urge people to be on their guard and to report any suspicious activity in their area to police immediately even the smallest amount of information can be useful.

“This could be reporting suspicious activity or passing on information in relation to a building that you suspect is being used to grow cannabis in. It could even be reporting a strange smell emanating from a property.

“We take all reports of illegal drugs activities in communities extremely seriously and will take robust action to put an end to the criminal behaviour of those involved in the drugs trade.

“We will seek to bring offenders to justice by putting them behind bars and stop them from bringing misery to the lives of other residents.”