RCMP investigate suspicious house fire southwest of Edmonton

An early-morning fire in Ponoka County is now under investigation by the RCMP.

At around 5:30 a.m., emergency crews were called to a house fire in the Hamlet of Leedale, which is about 20 kilometres southwest of Rimbey, Alta.

When crews arrived on scene, the home was engulfed in flames. It took firefighters until about 1 p.m. Saturday to douse the blaze.

Rimbey fire chief John Weisberger said the owner of the house was working out of town and wasn’t home at the time of the fire. The house was completely destroyed, Weisberger added.

The cause of the fire is not known but Weisberger said it appears to be suspicious.

No injuries were reported.

Leedale is located about 165 kilometres southwest of Edmonton.