Deputies with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to 3812 14th Street SW, Lehigh Acres, in reference to a structure fire on Friday night at around 7:26 p.m. Upon arriving on scene, deputies entered the home with members of the Lehigh Acres Fire Department to conduct a “safety sweep” of the premises.

Investigators today said deputies quickly determined nobody was inside the home at the time of the fire and the residence was secured. Damage caused by the fire was minimal, investigators said.

While inside the house, deputies discovered an elaborate marijuana cultivation operation in plain view. Due to the nature of the incident, detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit responded to the seen to assume the investigation.

Investigators obtained a search warrant to enter the home and conducted a thorough search of the premises. A final count of the marijuana operation revealed a total of 82 plants containing an estimated street value of $240,000.