Police find thousands of marijuana plants in Turner home after fire reported

Thousands of marijuana plants are seen Wednesday in a home at 2509 Auburn Road in Turner. Firefighters and Androscoggin County deputies discovered the growing operation after a 911 caller reported smoke coming from the eaves. There was no smoke, only steam, officials said. Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office photo

TURNER — Authorities seized roughly 2,500 marijuana plants Wednesday at a home on Auburn Road.

A 911 caller late Wednesday morning reported smoke coming from the eaves of a garage at 2509 Auburn Road.

When an Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office deputy and firefighters arrived at the scene, they discovered that what had appeared to be smoke was actually steam generated by a large number of marijuana plants growing inside the home, according to a sheriff’s Facebook posting Thursday.

“It was initially estimated that there were about 500 marijuana plants, as well as items related to the growing of marijuana, including grow lights, chemical fertilizers, dehumidifiers, and propane heaters were seen,” according to the posting.

Turner Fire & Rescue responds to a report of a smoke at 2509 Auburn Road, which ended up being steam. A discovery of thousands of marijuana plants in the home prompted police to investigate and involve the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Maine Office of Cannabis Policy was contacted and an investigator responded to the scene, the post said.

“It was determined that they had no records of any license being issued for 2509 Auburn Road or any license issued to the homeowner, who is from Massachusetts,” according to the posting.

Authorities secured and executed a search warrant for the property. The 2509 Auburn Road home is owned by a Liming Yu of Quincy, Massachusetts, according to Turner’s tax assessment database. Liming has been listed as the property’s owner since April 21, 2021.

Sheriff’s deputies seized roughly 2,500 plants, but have made no arrests, according to the posting.

An investigation is ongoing.

“It is not immediately known if this residence is related to other illegal marijuana grows that have recently been searched in Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset counties,” the post said.