The remains of a house fire in Clinton on Saturday morning, which is being investigated as suspicious. Photo by Rachel Taylor.
Constable Blair Coulette said the house had been vacant for some time and the power disconnected.
The owner had recently rented out the property, reconnecting the power ready for the tenant.
Police monitored the scene overnight. Fire safety investigator Crawford Morris spent most of Saturday at the scene trying to establish how and where the fire started.
Mr Morris said the fire began in the lounge or dining area, but said fire safety authority staff and Balclutha police were still investigating possible causes, which included electrical faults.
No further details were available yesterday.
