A man has been taken into custody and released without charges as police continue to investigate what they are calling a “suspicious” house fire that happened over the weekend.
The fire started just after 1 a.m. Sunday and the Lethbridge home is a complete loss.
It happened on the 600th block of 9th Avenue South.
Sixteen firefighters from three stations were needed to put out the blaze. Heavy smoke and flames could be seen coming from the main floor of the house.
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Tamara Martin lives next door. She says that she and her boyfriend woke up to thick smoke in their home and, at first, thought it was their house that caught fire.
They stood outside and watched the neighbouring house burn.
“I was freaking out,” she said. “I thought for sure our house was going to catch on fire. The flames looked like they were so close, but the fire guy said it was going to be OK.”
Damage to the home is estimated to be about $200,000.
No injuries have been reported and there was no damage to other houses.
Fire investigators and the police service are still trying to confirm what happened.
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