Firemen attending a blaze at an apartment in calle Río Vélez in Las Lagunas, Mijas, discovered a marijuana plantation with a sophisticated lighting system.
Neighbours had reported seeing smoke coming from the apartment and had even broken down the door fearing that someone might be trapped inside. When firemen arrived and entered the apartment, the fire rekindled and thick black smoke filled the building, forcing them to evict twenty residents.
While extinguishing the flames, the firemen discovered two rooms being used as a marijuana plantation. It is thought that the fire could have been caused by a short circuit in one of the lamps being used to aid the growth of the plants.
The Guardia Civil are now trying to locate the owners of the property.