Flames fully engulf a house Jan. 29 in South Lake Tahoe. Photo/Denise Haerr

A fire Wednesday night that completely destroyed a house in South Lake Tahoe looks to be have been deliberately set.

Police officers had gone to the house in the 1100 block of Long Avenue the afternoon of Jan. 29 on a report of someone forcing their way in. Officers said it appeared someone had slept there. But no suspect was found.

The modified A-frame is being repaired because of damage from burst pipes earlier this winter, so no one was living there. When a repairman was at the house earlier this week he reported to the fire department and Southwest Gas that he smelled natural gas and saw that gas valves on various appliances had been turned on.

The fire was called in at 6:10 Wednesday night. It’s estimated that the loss of the structure is $300,000 and contents $20,000. The fire spread to nearby trees, but crews were able to keep the flames from reaching other structures or becoming a forest fire.

South Lake Tahoe police detectives have launched a criminal investigation along with arson investigators from South Lake Tahoe, Lake Valley and Tahoe Douglas fire departments.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report