A weekend Finlayson Street fire has been ruled as arson.
Fire crews responded to the home around 8 a.m. Saturday and battled a blaze for several hours. Once the fire was out an investigation found a large burn pattern on the floor of the home caused by a flammable liquid.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue prevention captain Eric Nordlund said the home, which was under renovations, had no heat and minimal electrical service. Investigators ruled the fire as vandalism and arson.
“It looks like somebody made their way into that property and set it on fire,” he said. “There was no reason for that fire to happen other than someone lighting it on fire on purpose.”
People were spotted near the home the night before the fire. Nordlund said the owner has had trouble with people break-ins in the past. The home is now structurally unsound.
“That house will have to be demolished,” Nordlund said.
A fire on Cumming Street on Feb. 19, in the same area as Finlayson Street, was deemed highly suspicious. The cause of that fire is still under investigation but Nordlund was quick to point out there has been no connection made between the two cases.
Police will now take over the Finlayson Street investigation.
