CASCUMPEC – The Provincial fire marshal’s office has turned the investigation into Thursday’s fire at a cottage in Cascumpec over to the RCMP.
Sgt. Paul Gagne with Prince District RCMP said the force is now treating the fire as an arson investigation.
He didn’t indicate what caused the investigation to go in that direction.
The summer home was not occupied at the time of the fire and power to the property was shut off three weeks ago.
Alberton Volunteer Fire Department answered the fire call and responded with 16 firefighters. Deputy chief Tom Murphy said another 15 firefighters responded from the West Point and O’Leary fire departments. They quickly brought the blaze under control, but not before the fire caused enough damage to render the property unsalvageable.
Located off Ferry Road on Megan Leigh Drive, the cottage was purchased this year by Russell Noonan of Middleton. He subsequently carried out extensive renovations and then relisted it for sale. The loss, Noonan said, is protected by insurance.
Murphy said it appeared the fire started at the southeast corner of the cottage, either on the exterior of the building or in a small attached pump house. The fire call was received at 6:44 a.m.
Neighbouring departments left the scene shortly before 9 a.m., but Alberton firefighters were on scene dealing with hot spots until 11:25 a.m.
