BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- Two men were arrested in Brevard County Monday after crews battling brush fires two weeks ago uncovered an elaborate marijuana growing operation, according to Local 6 News.

Agents said Mark Anthony Smigielski, 50, of Port St. John and Chris John Cranston, 48, of Casselberry allegedly grew the plants in some remote woods west of Canavaral Grove between Route 528 -- the Beachline -- and state Road 407.

"The cash crop would not have been discovered if it was not for the fires," Local 6 News reporter Donald Forbes said. "Heavy machinery plowed a fire line right in the middle of one of the gardens."

Authorities said the plants were spread out over acres of dry brush.

Law enforcement officers said the men had to use a canoe to get to the growing fields. They had apparently been growing the pot plants for some time, Forbes said.

"You can tell by the cuts on the trees that they've been doing this for a while," U.S. Fish and Wildlife official Jane Whaley said. "This is not a first year cut."

A helicopter was used to haul the 300 plants out of the location.

Local 6 News reported that Cranston was a professor last semester at Seminole Community College.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.