Fire Consumes Infamous Drug Cave

[L Roebuck]

Fire Consumes Former Drug Cave

HARTSVILLE- A fire destroyed a cave in Trousdale County that was once the site of a massive marijuana-growing operation.

The fire consumed the cave and the house above it on Dixon Creek Road near Hartsville.

Officials said when firefighters initially responded after 11 p.m. Tuesday, flames fully engulfed the home and cave.

The drug operation was one of the largest in Tennessee. Investigators said the men grew more than 800 plants deep underground. A secret passageway linked the natural cave to the house.

Fred Strunk was found guilty of masterminding the operation. Brian Gibson and Greg Compton pleaded guilty to helping run the operation.

Fire chief said the fire appears to be suspicious. He said that as firefighters fought this fire, another fire started at an unoccupied home a half mile down the road.

He said it appears that both fires were caused the same way.

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[Rebel Rouser]

That would be one HOT fire to burn a cave up!

[Brian Roebuck]

This place would have made the ultimate cavers home. It had easy cave access and a really nice house as well. Too bad it is gone but I suppose the local sherrif won't have to worry about it being re-built anytime soon. Maybe the cave will now be more open to the outside air and cave life can someday return. I am sure only the growing benches and junk like that burned (at least until the air in the cave was all used up). It is a mess all around!

[L Roebuck]

Um, I can't help but wonder if the firefighters even tried to put the in-cave fire out?

If they decide to sale that property anytime soon I would think the cave (modified,<cough> fire destroyed, rubble) would be worth a whole lot less than a pristine "au natural" formation cave.