Neighbours who witnessed a house go up in flames in the north end Saturday night say it was deliberately set.
Janice, who didn’t want her last name used, saw flashes of flame coming from the home next door and called 911 around 9 p.m.
“It was scary, the whole back of the house was (up in) flames,” she said. “And it’s so close.”
She said three women escaped the home, which is notorious for unsavoury activity.
Another neighbour, who said she saw someone throw something lit at the home from the alley and chased the assailant, simply said the home is bad news.
The current tenants have been living there for about a year, but have had police and ambulances come by on a regular basis.
The people who rented the home before were allegedly involved in drugs. Janice said, adding the SWAT team had come four or five times.
The rest of the street’s residents — owners and renters — are fine, said Janice.
“It’s a working-class (neighbourhood),” she said.
“People are friendly, say hello, but most just keep to themselves.”
