LIVES are being put at risk by people running cannabis factories, firefighters have warned.
It comes after a man was rushed to Hull Royal Infirmary suffering from smoke inhalation following a blaze at a house in Ryde Street, off Beverley Road, yesterday morning.
It is believed cannabis was being grown in the property.
Just hours earlier, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service were called to a fire in Grimsby, where cannabis plants were also being grown.
Those cultivating the plants have been told they are putting the lives of their neighbours at risk, as well as their own.
A spokesperson from the fire service, said: "Growing cannabis is very dangerous, as are the associated fire risks with poorly maintained and misused equipment.
"Using high-energy heat lamps in these conditions is very hazardous and the overloading of electrical sockets poses a serious fire risk.
"These lamps can easily overheat and cause a fire that could smoulder for some time before being detected.
"Firefighters attended two fires of this nature in the Humberside area in the last 48 hours alone."
But the fact many of these factories are in residential areas is causing major concern.
The spokesman said: "The incidents of this nature that we have attended are often in a residential area, which puts neighbouring residents at risk if a fire breaks out.
"The people responsible for this may not consider the safety of their neighbours, so it is important all residents fit their home with working smoke detectors, as this will give vital time to escape should a fire break out."
Firefighters were called to the Ryde Street fire just after 8am yesterday.
Officers found a rear bedroom of a ground-floor flat was on fire.
A 48-year-old man suffering smoke inhalation was given oxygen before being taken to hospital by ambulance. A second man escaped unharmed.
The rear bedroom was badly damaged by smoke and there was also fire damage.
Investigators believe the fire was caused by an electrical fault relating to the cultivation of cannabis.
Smoke detectors were fitted and were activated at the property.
Station Officer Andy Smallwood said: "Firefighters went in and extinguished the fire swiftly."
"Cannabis plants were present and we liaised with police at the scene."
Humberside Police confirmed a man was arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation and was released on police bail.
The other fire involving cannabis growing happened in Rutland Street, Grimsby, on Monday.
It is believed the occupier had been growing cannabis in a front bedroom.
Humberside Police had previously said there had been an increase in DIY cannabis factories in residential homes, which they said could be due to the recession.
Just last month, notorious criminal brothers Darren "Bigga D" Wilson and Dean Armstrong were jailed at Hull Crown Court for a total of 20 years.
As well as conspiracy to murder, loan shark Wilson was convicted of money laundering, arson and the production of cannabis.
The court heard how he and Armstrong would make people grow cannabis in large homes across Hull, which were rented out by the letting agency Armstrong worked for.
They have both been convicted of arson after they got someone to petrol bomb cancer sufferer Donna Nagi's home in a bid to get her out, so they could use the home as a cannabis factory.
