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Renaud Road barn fire uncovered drug lab at the site: Ottawa police

Ottawa fire crews doused a blaze in a Renaud Road barn on Tuesday morning. Roads in the area are closed off to traffic Thursday morning as part of a police investigation. Ottawa Fire Services

Ottawa police say a barn fire earlier in the week near Blackburn Hamlet uncovered a cannabis grow-op and “clandestine” laboratory.

Police have closed down a section of Renaud Road from Anderson Road to Joshua Street twice in the past day as part of an investigation tied to a fire in the area earlier in the week.

Crews were called early Tuesday amid reports of a barn fire in the area. The flames were quickly doused but a hazmat crew was called to the scene after some of the materials in the structure emitted “toxic fumes” when burned.

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“Initial assessment of the location indicates that the structure housed an indoor cannabis grow operation and a sophisticated clandestine extraction laboratory,” police said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

Police said they were working with Ottawa Fire Services, Health Canada and the Ontario fire marshal’s office to “investigate, assess and dismantle the operation.”

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No injuries have been reported in connection with the fire.

Sections of Renaud Road remain closed Thursday afternoon with no timeline for reopening.

Click to play video: 'Oshawa house fire being investigated as possible case of arson'
Oshawa house fire being investigated as possible case of arson

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