LOWELL (CBS) – Firefighters responding to a small fire in Lowell stumbled upon something much bigger: An elaborate marijuana growing operation.

Angel Luna faced a judge in Lowell Tuesday on drug trafficking and other charges.

Luna called the fire department Monday after his wood stove started a fire on his porch.

WBZ-TV’s Ken MacLeod reports

After they put the fire out, crews discovered a sophisticated operation in the basement and in a bedroom.

Lowell Police Captain Kelly Richardson said Luna had a gas generator outside of the home to disguise the electric bill. “It was quite the operation,” he says.

Neighbors say Luna kept to himself and they had no idea what was going on in the house.