SALT LAKE CITY — The investigation continued Thursday into a large fire at a residence where police busted a marijuana operation 24 hours earlier.
About 10 p.m. Tuesday, Salt Lake police served a search warrant at a house at 264 S. 1000 East. Marijuana was being grown both inside and outside the structure, said Salt Lake police detective Richard Chipping.
Approximately 70 plants from the backyard and 4 pounds of dried marijuana inside the house were seized, Chipping said.
A tent and lights were used to help grow the plants, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
Nathaniel Harris, 38, the lone resident, was arrested for investigation of having a drug lab.
About 10 p.m. Wednesday, Salt Lake firefighters received a report of a detached garage on fire at the same address.
"When they came up, all they saw was the garage. They didn't even see the house. So they don't know if the house was on fire at the same time or what," said Salt Lake fire spokesman Jasen Asay.
The walls of the garage started to crumble when firefighters shot water on them from their hoses, and they could see the house was also on fire.
"Somehow (the fire) extended into the house. They're not sure how it started or how it extended into the house," Asay said.
The distance between the house and the garage is between 20 and 25 feet.
As of Thursday morning, investigators were not prepared to call the fire arson.
Neighbor Bonnie Macri said she talked with Harris' sister, who "told the police that (Nathaniel) said he was going to burn the house down."
"We are aware of what neighbors are saying happened there the last few days, and our investigators are collaborating with the police department and are bringing that into the investigation. But we're not deeming it arson at this point," Asay said.
After the drug bust, the house was declared uninhabitable by the health department, Asay said.
Harris posted bond about 1 p.m. Wednesday. Asay did not know Thursday morning if investigators had questioned Harris or whether he's considered a suspect in the fire.
Email: preavy@deseretnews.com
Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam