Edmonton Fire Rescue Services said it received multiple calls starting at around 6:40 a.m. about a structure fire in the area of 183 Street and 77 Avenue.
Crews arrived to a single-family house about five minutes later, but found the doors and windows of the home were boarded.
“This made it challenging for fire crews to gain entry to the building,” an EFRS spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.
Crews were able to get into the house through the back.
Once crews were inside, they found a large fire in the basement. The fire was brought under control by 8:05 a.m.
One person was confirmed dead in the home. EFRS had no further information about the victim.
On Tuesday, EFRS called the fire a non-criminal event and said the fire appears to have been deliberately set.
Damages are estimated at about $450,000, EFRS said.