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A suspicious fire at a run-down Lake Country property has police on the scene at the Airport Inn this morning.

RCMP were called to assist the Lake Country Fire Department with the structure fire shortly before 12:30 a.m. last night.

Firefighters arrived to find the north end of the building completely engulfed in flames.  

RCMP confirmed that a number of tenants residing at the Inn were all accounted for and no one was injured, says Const. Lesley Smith. 

“Lake Country RCMP have since secured the property, as the fire department and RCMP fire investigators continue to examine the scene in order to determine the cause of the fire,” says Smith.

“Although this investigation is in its early stages, the circumstances surrounding the fire are being considered suspicious in nature.” 

Earlier this year, Lake Country council ordered the Inn shut down over health and safety concerns. It had been operating as a low-rent facility to long-term tenants. It has also been the scene of numerous police calls.

One resident of the Inn who says he has lived there for the past year, accused the municipality of bullying owner Raif Fleihan, and tells Castanet there are no bed bug or mould problems there.

"I cannot believe that what I’m seeing is a typical David vs. Goliath situation, where the District of Lake Country is bullying the owner in order to condemn the place ... council is forcing the residents out on the streets," James White said in an email.

White says the fire "mysteriously started in an unoccupied area of the Inn."

"This fire was deliberately set. What is strange is the fire marshal was just here (yesterday) afternoon."

RCMP are seeking witnesses to the incident. If you have any information, contact Lake Country RCMP at 250-766-2288 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.crimestoppers.net.