Investigators say an early morning fire in Bedford that extensively damaged a house and spread to a nearby business was caused by the careless disposal of smoking materials.
The fire happened overnight Monday in the 600-block of the Bedford Highway outside Halifax.
According to officials, one person was in the home at the time and was able to escape uninjured.
By daylight, the extent of the damage was evident at the rear of the building, especially on the back patio.
The blaze also led to some exterior damage at an adjacent grocery store.
Monday afternoon, Deputy Chief Roy Hollett told Global News the fire had been ruled accidental and was caused by the careless disposal of smoking materials. It appears the fire started under the deck along the exterior of the house, then travelled through the interior and along the deck to the adjacent building.
Damage is estimated to be between $60,000 to $75,000.
A section of the Bedford Highway between Larry Uteck Boulevard and Lodge Drive was closed for several hours but was re-opened in time for the morning commute.
— With files from Dave Squires and Silas Brown