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Handyman charged with third-degree murder
The Associated Press | Penn Live | 11/1/2005

PHILADELPHIA — A handyman whose alleged attempt to grow marijuana resulted in a smoky fire that killed two city firefighters went on trial Tuesday, charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, drug and related offenses.

Edward Cameron, assistant district attorney, told a jury in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court that Daniel Brough, 37, recklessly created ovenlike conditions in his basement to nurture his marijuana plants.

That "dangerous situation" led to the deaths by asphyxiation of Fire Capt. John Taylor, 53, and firefighter Rey Rubio, 42, he contended.

According to accounts from fire officials, Rubio became disoriented in the smoke-clotted basement of Brough's house in the Port Richmond section of the city on Aug. 20, 2004.

With his oxygen running out and his equipment blaring a warning alarm, Rubio apparently became entangled amid debris scattered about the small space. Taylor, officials said, sought to rescue Rubio and died at his side.

Defense attorney William Cannon acknowledged that Brough liked to smoke marijuana. And he said there were indeed pot plants growing in a hothouse environment in a small closet in Brough's basement.

But, Cannon said, there was nothing reckless in this farming operation, which Brough monitored closely and harvested for his personal use. Cannon said the temperature where the plants were growing never exceeded 87 degrees.

Philadelphia fire marshals concluded that the fire began in the marijuana closet, where Brough had a 1,000-watt grow light and other paraphernalia of indoor plant farming.

Cannon said the fire started in another basement closet — not the farming area.

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killer12382

Its quite possible that his grow op caused the fire. If he was using HID lights the bulbs get extremely hot and when they go bad they sometimes blow up, sending hot fragments of glass all over the place. Homemade wiring jobs to the balasts or some other homemade rig the guy set up could have caused it. The lights also pull alot of current and his outlet may have been overloaded. There are alot of things in a grow op that can catch fire so you got to know what you are doing before you do it.