House fire couple face drugs charges

AN UPWEY couple with an infant child have been charged with narcotics offences after a fire engulfed their Leah Avenue residence last week, leading Belgrave Police to a drug-cultivation facility.
Upwey and Belgrave firefighters responded to the call-in at 3.40am on Wednesday 3 October, arriving at the scene to find acrid smoke billowing from the house.
Despite experiencing difficulties in locating the origin of the blaze because of the blinding flames, the firefighters managed to contain the fire to a single room.
While none of the residents were injured in the incident, extensive smoke and heat damage was sustained throughout the house.
Upwey CFA Captain Peter Marke said that it was likely that the fire was linked to the malfunction of a cooking element involved in the drug-cultivation facility.
Belgrave Police Senior Constable Steve Brown later reported that the 47-year-old male resident and his wife, 32, had been charged with the cultivation and possession of narcotic plants.
The pair has been bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on 27 November.