SURREY (NEWS1130) - Surrey is claiming to have cut the number of marijuana grow-ops in the city by nearly 82 per cent.
It says the figure is based on the number of operations discovered through the
Electrical Fire Safety Inspection Program.
Mayor
Dianne Watts says the number of grow-ops confirmed in Surrey in 2011 shows significant progress from what the program uncovered when it expanded in 2007.
"We can go in when a grow-op is identified in terms of the power usage, and of course we know that it is a fire safety issue," she says.
Program statistics suggest close to 1,500 grow-op locations have been rendered safe with respect to electrical issues, and more than 1,000 have had power terminated since 2005.
The program is also being credited with helping reduce house fires in Surrey.