Police are treating the cause of a fire which destroyed a two-bedroom weatherboard home in Portland known to be a location of drug activity as suspicious.
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Detective Sergeant Jason von Tunk, of the Portland police crime investigation unit, said emergency services, including the city's CFA, were called to the fire at 38 Wellington Road about 9.30pm on July 17.
"We are treating the cause of the fire as suspicious," he said.
"The house at the corner of Wellington Road and Carcoola Crescent was completely gutted.
"Portland and Hamilton CIU investigators attended at the property on Saturday to conduct further investigations.
"The seat of the fire was located in the kitchen area. We are expecting a Victoria Police arson chemist to arrive today to conduct further inquiries."
Detective Sergeant von Tunk said no one was no one was injured and no one was home at the time of the fire.
"There was a report that a brick has been thrown through a window at the property and we are making further inquiries about that claim," he said.
"It is known that drug activities have been conducted at the address.
"We are requesting that anyone with information about the fire contact the Portland police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.," he said.
The replacement value of the home has been estimated at in excess of $200,000.
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