Investigators uncertain of what caused house fire near Ste. Anne

It may forever remain a mystery what caused a house to go up in flames Tuesday afternoon near Ste. Anne.

The Ste. Anne Fire Department was called out over the lunch hour to a bungalow east of town, behind Lake Riviera.

When firefighters arrived, the home was engulfed in flames and Fire Chief Bob Saindon says both the home and the attached garage are a total loss.

According to Saindon, the house was a brand-new build. He says the owners moved in maybe six months ago. Saindon says there was nobody home at the time of the fire and he suggests it was probably burning for at least a couple of hours before anyone spotted it. That is a rural lot and Saindon says he thinks it was a passing motorist who called in the fire.

One day later, Saindon says due to fire and heat damage, it will be difficult to pinpoint an exact cause. 

He says the damage estimate from Tuesday's fire is at least $350,000.