London police are investigating a suspicious fire that damaged a historic church on Highbury Avenue.
Emergency crews responded to a working fire at a structure 850 Highbury Ave. around noon Thursday.
The London Fire Department was able to extinguish the blaze inside the Chapel of Hope, which is on the grounds of the former London Psychiatric Hospital.
“It took crews some time to gain entry because the historical chapel is boarded up,” said Platoon Chief Shawn Fitzgerald.
“There was a small fire inside that created a large amount of smoke.”
Fitzgerald says they searched the vacant building but found no one inside.
The fire has been deemed suspicious. Police and a fire inspector are looking into the cause.
The chapel is one of four protected heritage structures on the property.
No one was injured, and no damage estimate has been released at this time, but it is expected to be extensive.
Anyone with information on the fire is asked to contact London Police or Crime Stoppers.
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