Fire that destroyed Greely home treated as 'suspicious'

Officials say a fire that destroyed a family home in Greely is being considered "suspicious"

Arson investigators have been called in after a suspicious fire near Greely early Sunday morning.

The blaze destroyed a home on Mitch Owens Rd., just east of Bank Street.

“Due to the intensity of the fire and the fact that no occupants were home at the time that can rule out accidental causes” said Sgt. David Christie with the Ottawa Police Arson Unit.

Nathan Lynch, who lives across the street, phoned 9-1-1 around 2:45 a.m.

“I looked out my living room window and seen the flames coming right out of the roof,” he said. “It was huge. The whole roof was burnt in like 5 minutes, right down to the eves drop.”

Emergency Crews extinguished the blaze. Arson investigators were on scene Sunday morning investigating the cause.

“With some of the roof collapsed and the walls unstable, it wouldn’t be safe to work underneath those areas so we’re going to go to some of the other areas that aren’t underneath the roof and maybe collect some samples there,” said Christie.

Elwood Quaile lives across the street. He said the family who lived at this home has young children.

“I’m sure they’re going to be in shock, especially this time of the year, they’re going to have to find another place to live,” said Quaile.

Damages are estimated around $350,000.