No suspect nor cause in S. Tahoe house fire

Not much could be salvaged from this house after it burned in January. Photo/Denise Haerr

The cause of a fire that completely destroyed a house in South Lake Tahoe in late January remains unknown.

“We are investigating it as an arson. It has been characterized as suspicious,” South Lake Tahoe police Detective Jeff Roberson told Lake Tahoe News.

His agency is working the investigation with Lake Valley Fire because South Lake Tahoe Fire doesn’t have an arson investigator.

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

Evidence from the fire was sent to a lab for analysis. The main thing to determine is what type of accelerant was used. Roberson is not revealing what the lab found because at this time there is no suspect and releasing the info could jeopardize the investigation.

Roberson would like anyone who saw anything suspicious in the neighborhood or at the house the week prior to Jan. 29 to call him at 530.542.6100.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report