House destroyed after suspicious fire in Canterbury

Photo / File / Wayne Drought

A house has been destroyed after a suspicious fire in Canterbury early today.

The fire service was called to the scene on High Street on the outskirts of Leeston, south west of Christchurch, about 5.30am, southern fire communications shift manager Karl Patterson said.

The property was "well ablaze" by the time the four appliances arrived.

"Reports are that it's almost burnt to the ground," Mr Patterson said.

No injuries have been reported and it was not known if the house was occupied at the time of the fire.

The cause of the blaze was still to be determined but it was being treated as suspicious.

Police and fire safety officers were on their way to the scene, Mr Patterson said.