Police are searching early Sunday for the residents. One was at the Queens home when firefighters arrived but slipped out before police got there.
Firefighters were called to check out smoking utility wires outside the Bleecker Street home Friday night. They went into the basement to turn off the power and stumbled on the illicit crop and an array of lights, reflectors and wiring to help it grow.
They called police, who say they hauled away more than 200 marijuana plants.
Next-door neighbor Jack Bouchez says he never detected the plants' earthy scent.
