A MAN will appear in court after a cannabis crop was found at a house in Wasleys, following a house fire last week.

Police will allege that about 12.40pm on Thursday, May 6, patrols and fire crews were called to the house after reports of a fire.

Upon arrival, emergency services found the house was fully engulfed by flames.

The male occupant had fled the premises when the fire started and was not injured.

The house was unable to be saved, causing an estimated $150,000 worth of damage.

Fire crews extinguished the blaze and found a hydroponic cannabis crop in a rear bedroom. Electricity had been tampered with and diverted to the property to help in growing the cannabis, and investigators suspect this led to the fire starting.

The 64-year-old man was reported for cultivating cannabis, possess prescribed equipment and theft of electricity.

He will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

If you suspect a house might be used to grow cannabis hydroponically, here are some
signs that may indicate this:
• Suspicious items, including improvised heating and cooling mechanisms
• Fan or pump type noise
• Residents never putting their rubbish out or burning their rubbish
• Little or no traffic at a property during the day but frequent traffic late at night or at odd hours
• Blackened, covered or reinforced windows
• Unusual electrical work
• Hoses and pipes near windows or doors
• Extractor fans, particularly in garages or sheds
• Suspicious packages being brought onto premises via couriers or other means.

Anyone with information about the manufacture, possession and sale of illegal drugs is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au. You can remain anonymous.