Queenstown house fire treated as suspicious

Photo / File photo

Police are treating a house fire in Queenstown this morning as suspicious.

Queenstown and Frankton Volunteer Fire Brigades were alerted to the Glasgow St blaze by occupants of a neighbouring property at 5.50am and spent about 90 minutes bringing the fire under control.

The top floor of the two-storey building, understood to be unoccupied, was destroyed.

Southern Region Fire Safety officer Stuart Ide told the Otago Daily Times today at this stage the fire was being treated as suspicious.

"We're still following some lines of inquiry regarding electricity [and] police are still trying to establish who the owner is and where [they are]."

Mr Ide said the material used on the exterior of the house was "Polite board", which was understood to have an asbestos base.

Queenstown Lakes District Council contractors were at the address moving debris from the fire on to the site of the home.

"As long as it's wet it's stable . . . they're picking it up as quickly as they can".