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Explosion at London house called “suspicious”
Joe Belanger; London Free Press; 2008/03/25

No one was injured in a “suspicious” explosion and fire at a southeast London home shortly before midnight last night.

Investigators were on the scene this morning searching for a cause.

The explosion caused an estimated $70,000 damage to the house at 50 Jacqueline Street off Thompson Road just west of Adelaide Street.

The house was vacant and under renovation, fire officials said.

Police were also on the scene.

“We’re treating it as suspicious and we’re holding the scene for the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office,” said Const. Amy Phillipo.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 11:52 p.m. by passersby.

When they arrived, flames were shooting from the rear roof and windows.

It was quickly brought under control and a search by firefighters revealed no one was in the house.

“As there was no hydro in the area of the fire and no obvious cause for the fire, the fire was thought to be of suspicious origins,” wrote Platoon Chief Syd Gatenby, in a report.