Greenhouse Fires & Safety

Specialized equipment utilized in cannabis grow facilities to regulate the lighting, temperature, humidity, and air quality may present fire hazards if not operated properly. In particular, metal halide (MH) lamps and sulfur burning vaporizers contain extremely hot material that may burst or spill. In at least three incidents Miller Engineering is aware of, a fire originated in a grow room after hot material came in contact with the combustible plants and plastic containers, as well as the tables containing them. These fires produce a large amount of soot that can spread throughout the facility, damaging plants and potentially causing health concerns for employees who are exposed to the smoke. Given that this type of equipment has historically been used in underground types of operations, the hazards of using them may not be well known even within the industry.