Cannabis found during fire callout

Fire crews attending a Christchurch house fire have found cannabis plants.

The Fire Service found the marijuana plants in the Hoon Hay house about 3pm yesterday.

Neighbours called emergency services after hearing loud detonations coming from inside the house.

Thick black smoke was billowing from the prop-erty.

Addington station officer Omar Yusaf said the fire appeared to have started in a front-corner room.

It had caused significant damage to a quarter of the house, while smoke and heat had damaged the rest.

No-one had been found in the house, he said.

Sergeant Nigel Cameron, of Christchurch South Police, said what looked to be about six marijuana plants were found in the house.

The fire was not thought to have started in the room where the cannabis was growing, he said.

A neighbour said a man who lived in the house had been contacted at work, telling him of the fire.

However, the man had not come home, the neighbour said.

Cameron said officers were investigating.