'Suspicious' blaze damages vacant south Granville Street home

Firefighters battled a large blazein a "boarded up andabandoned" house in Vancouver's west sidethat broke out just before 6 a.m. PT on Saturday.

The firespread quickly through the building near Granville Street andWest58thAvenue, eventually tearingthrough the roof.

Battalion Chief DaleParnosaid the blaze was stubborn to fight due to the age and type of building materials in the home.

Crews called for extra firefighters around 6:30 a.m. PT after the blazehad made its way deep into the walls of the home.

"We did a quick primary search, we found nobody at this time, and no evidence of anybody living inside either," Parno said.

He said even though the home is one of a number on the block that isslated to be demolished, itwas "secured fairly well."

"This house is boarded up and abandoned, as most of the houses in this block are, so the cause of the fire is suspicious at this point."

He said there was a fire at another house on the blockjust last week.

Nearby residents were woken up to the strong smell of smoke from the burning building.

They say the house was recently sold to a developer.