ROCKPORT (AP) – A house fire led to the discovery of a suspected drug trafficking operation and a toddler who was living within reach of hundreds of hypodermic needles, police said.

Firefighters on Tuesday quickly contained the blaze at the High Street home of Robert Crowe, but they spotted what they suspected was a marijuana growing operation, complete with lights and fans, in the area where the fire began.

After obtaining a search warrant, police discovered close to 40 marijuana plants, as well as 400 to 500 bags of heroin and crack cocaine and mushrooms. Also seized were three rifles, two handguns and $2,480 in cash.

Crowe, 38, was charged with aggravated cultivation of marijuana, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, and aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs.

His girlfriend, Jamie Reed, 22, was charged with aggravated cultivation of marijuana.

Police Chief Mark Kelley said he was most disturbed by the hundreds of hypodermic needles found within easy reach of Reed’s son, believed to be age 2 or 3, who was living in the house with his mother and Crowe.

“Deplorable conditions,” Kelley said Wednesday. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a place as filthy.”

The Department of Human Services is investigating the child’s living conditions, Kelley said.

Crowe was suspected of dealing drugs based on arrests made elsewhere in the area, said Detective Jim Pease of the Rockland police.

Since the house is within 1,000 feet of Rockport Elementary School, the charges were elevated to “aggravated,” police said.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office, but Kelley said it appears to have begun near electrical appliances.

AP-ES-03-18-04 0217EST