London police and fire officials are investigating a suspicious early morning fire that destroyed a vacant home in the northeast-end.
The blaze broke out at 1310 Adelaide Street North around 5 a.m on Tuesday. Flames and thick black smoke could be seen coming from the abandoned structure when firefighters arrived on scene.
"We didn't expect or have reason to believe there would be anyone inside, so our crews decided very early on in the fire that we would take a defensive strategy and fight the fire from the exterior," said Platoon Chief Gary Mosburger.
He added that as the home was vacant all power sources, gas, and water had been disconnected.
Crews had to use multiple hand lines, run from a hydrant on the other side of the street, before the fire was brought under control roughly an hour later.
No injuries have been reported.
Firefighters were on scene until late Tuesday morning extinguishing hot spots.
Damages have been pegged at $500,000.
Before an official damage estimate was released, Mosburger said the building was a "complete loss."
"We have assigned a fire prevention investigator to the site. They will determine the origin cause and circumstance of the fire," said Mosburger.
Police said the fire has been deemed to be suspicious in nature. The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal has been called to assist.
Adelaide Street between Glenora Drive and Kipps Lane and Windermere to the west of Tetherwood Boulevard was closed throughout the morning commute.
