York police investigating 'suspicious' fire at Vaughan home
Neighbours express concern after blaze breaks out at home on Valeria Boulevard in Woodbridge.

YorkRegion.com and CBC.ca
Aug. 11, 2017
Tim Kelly

Police are investigating what they are calling a "suspicious" fire in Woodbridge's Weston Downs neighbourhood that occurred early Friday morning.

York Regional Police and Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service were called to 200 Valeria Boulevard, off Weston Road south of Rutherford Road, just before 2 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11.

Neighbours had spotted smoke coming from the rear of the house, police said.

Firefighters were able to quickly douse the fire. There was nobody home at the time.

"At this time we do consider the fire suspicious so the scene will be held," said Const. Andy Pattenden of York Regional Police.

The Fire Marshal is investigating to determine the cause of the fire.

Maria, a next-door neighbour who declined to giver her last name, said she was "scared."

Speaking Friday morning outside the home the home, which was secured with police tape and had two York Regional Police cruisers out in front guarding the scene, she added the aging couple who live at 200 Valeria have been away for a number of months.

Reports are that they are currently in Italy.

"They are old, they are close to their 80s," Maria said.

Another woman who drove by the scene and wondered what was going on, expressed concern.

"I've lived here for 36 years and every time you turn around there seems to be a shooting or a bombing or a fire or something suspicious going on," she said.