Arson suspected in fire that torched home, badly damaged another in southeast

The Calgary Fire Department's arson investigator is at the scene of a fire that destroyed an under-construction home and severely damaged a neighbour's residence in the southeast neighbourhood of Legacy.

Batt. Chief Alistair Robin said around 2 p.m. Sunday, crews responded to a call about a structure fire in the 200 block of Legacy Mount S.E.

"When crews arrived, there was a home under construction that was fully involved in fire and was impinging on the neighbouring home which was occupied," Robin said, adding that the person who lived in the home next door had safely fled the building before the fire department's arrival.

"The home under construction was burned right down to the concrete foundation and would be a total loss and the occupied home suffered extensive damages. To what extent or how much is salvageable, I don't know at this time."

Robin said investigators were still on scene, including the department's arson investigator, trying to determine the fire's origin and cause early Sunday evening.

The fire department is asking anyone with photos or video of the fire before crews arrived to emailpiofire@calgary.ca.