The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary reiterated Friday that Wednesday night’s residential fire which extensively damaged a house at 6 McWhirters Lane was not suspicious.
Thursday, the RNC said the fire was accidental, but did not release specifics of what caused the fire.
“We determine if the fire is suspicious or criminal in nature,” RNC Insp. Terry Corbin said. “And if not, by default it’s accidental.”
RNC policy is to leave details at that, Corbin said. Similar to vehicle accidents, he said, it is up to the insurance companies to pinpoint the exact cause of fire for insurance purposes.
“From the RNC’s perspective, if it doesn’t appear to be criminal, that’s as far was we go,” Corbin said.
He said when RNC fire investigators make their call on the nature of the fire, they take into account the setting.
“The house was old,” he said. “You have to (account for) what state it was left in, how well it was cared for, and whatever other issues.”
The house was being inhabited until May when more that 200 cats were removed from the residence. A shed on the property was also destroyed.
