A child playing with a lighter has been blamed for starting a fire that damaged a duplex in Lincoln Wednesday night, but what firefighters found in the other half of the duplex led to two arrests.
Lincoln Fire and Rescue Department Battalion Chief Eric Jones said it took firefighters about 15 minutes to control the blaze reported around 7:15 p.m. on North 56th Street near Logan Avenue.
Residents safely fled the burning unit. The adjacent residence sustained smoke damage and it was there firefighters noticed a marijuana growing operation and notified police. Officers came with a search warrant and found 14 marijuana plants and 17 seedlings.
Thirty-one-year-old Lawrence Toddy and 29-year-old Melissa Sieber were arrested for manufacturing a controlled substance.
