2 Sunday fires under investigation, and 1 could be work of serial arsonist

Two fires that broke out Sunday are being investigated, one of them by the Ottawa police arson unit.

The first fire happened at 309 Montfort St., a two-storey home on the corner of Ste Anne Avenue off Montreal Road, just before 3 a.m.

Residents who called 911 reported heavy smoke and flames visible from the rear of the home, firefighters said in a media release issued Sunday.

One person was insideat the time but managed to get out safely.Two others living there were away, fire officials said.

Fire crews managed to bring the flames under control by about 3:30 a.m., and no one was injured. Damage is estimated at about $450,000.

The Ottawa police arson unit is investigating.

The possible arson comes after a series of suspicious fires in the area. No arrests have been made.

• Police investigate fire in Vanier as latest in series of arsons
• 'Very scary': Spate of overnight fires strikes Vanier
• Police investigating 2 suspicious fires at vacant homes within blocks of each other

Abandoned house fire deemed suspicious

Just before 7 p.m. Sunday,a long-abandoned farmhouseat 425NicollsIsland Rd.,nearRiver Road, also caught fire.

Several people called 911 to report heavy black smoke and flames rising from the two-storey farmhouse, the fire department said in a media release.

No one was injured. An investigator from the fire department deemed the fire suspicious, but police are not opening an investigation.

Coun. Scott Moffatt said on social media Sunday that the house has been abandoned for some time, and that someone once shot a creepy video of it.