Police investigating house fires in western P.E.I.

Investigations are underway after two separate fires caused extensive damage to homes in western P.E.I. early Friday morning, RCMP say.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., the West Prince RCMP were called to a disturbance at a residence in O'Leary.

Police said they saw flames inside the home upon arrival and requested assistance from the O'Leary Fire Department, who extinguished the blaze.

There were no injuries, but there was extensive damage to the home and a pet cat died, said RCMP acting District Cmdr. Darrell Gill.

Second fire in Glenwood

A short time later, at 4:37 a.m., West Prince RCMP and the O'Leary Fire Department responded to another fire, this time at an abandoned home with no power in Glenwood.

The single-story house, which had no foundation, was a complete loss, Gill said.

It seems to be a trend every year where when it's getting close to Halloween you start seeing a lot more of this, especially these abandoned houses.– RCMP acting District Cmdr. Darrell Gill

Gill stopped short of calling it arson.

"Let's put it this way, it was definitely suspicious," he said. "And that's what we're investigating."

Gill said police get more calls this time of year of abandoned houses on fire. On Tuesday, RCMP and the Tignish Fire Department responded to a fire at an abandoned home in St-Roch that also had no power. 

"It seems to be a trend every year where when it's getting close to Halloween you start seeing a lot more of this, especially these abandoned houses," Gill said.

Police are asking the public to contact them if they have information that could assist with the investigations.

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