A Port Coquitlam fire that destroyed multiple homes on Tuesday has now been deemed suspicious.
The fire began before 5:45 a.m. in the area of Fraser Avenue and Oxford Street.
Two of the homes that were destroyed were occupied, while the third home standing between them was under construction. Two more homes also suffered damages from the fire exposure.
“Our fire investigators made a determination that the fire did start in the house under construction. In a house under construction, unlike a regular house, there are no real sources of ignition in it,” said Fire Chief Nick Delmonico.
WATCH: Full Global News coverage of the Port Coquitlam fire
“So the house had no electricity, no cooking facilities, no wiring. For a fire to start in just a wood structure without any source of ignition is what we would call suspicious.”
Delmonico said RCMP have taken over the investigation and are working to collect more evidence.
When the fire was fully engaged, flames were visible all the way from Pitt Meadows. Some of the flames were 40 feet high.
No one was injured in the blaze but some homes had to be evacuated.
~With files from Amy Judd