Four people have been arrested after an early morning house fire led to the discovery of a large marijuana distribution operation, according to police.

The Paramus Fire Department was called to a home on North Farview Avenue early Thursday morning. When firefighters arrived, two of the people inside the home were trying to put out the fire with a garden hose. 

The fire appears to have started outside the home when an electric meat-drying machine malfunctioned next to the garage. The fire quickly began spreading to the home, according to police.

When Paramus police and firefighters went into the home to get two more people out, they found what police described as a large marijuana grow facility in the basement of the home. Police say that they found 50 marijuana plants inside, some as large as 3 feet tall. Police also recovered harvested marijuana.

Four people who were home at the time of the fire were arrested and charged with the sale and manufacturing of marijuana.

While responding to the fire, one Paramus police vehicle collided with a deer. The officer was not injured and was able to continue to the fire scene. The police car received moderate damage, according to police.