London police are investigating a fire that broke out inside of a historic downtown home on Sunday night.
Firefighters were called to the vacant two-storey brick house at 172 Central Ave. just east of St. George Street around 9:30 p.m. Crews took an offensive approach, fighting the fire from the exterior of the 140-year-old home.
The blaze was extinguished and no injuries were reported.
A damage estimate has not been released.
Police said on Monday the fire has been deemed “suspicious in nature” and that members of the police street crime unit are investigating.
The home, built in 1882, was originally owned by Dr. Oronhyatekha, one of Canada’s first Indigenous doctors. Later it was home to Canadian painter Tony Urquhart.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call police at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
