ORANGE detectives and fire investigators spent Sunday at the scene of a fire in Buna Street, where a house was completely engulfed in flames late on Saturday afternoon.
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Sergeant Brenden Turner said police have a suspect and pending the outcome of the forensic examination of the site of the fire, will move forward with their investigation.
Orange Fire and Rescue station officer Neil Hughes said the house was well alight when the brigade received the call about 5.15pm.
“The smoke could be seen as we drove out of the station. The house was well alight when we arrived,” he said.
The two-bedroom weatherboard and fibro cottage was owned by an elderly woman who was not occupying the house at the time the fire broke out.
It started in the front corner of the house where Mr Hughes said a gas main had caught alight with flames shooting into the air.
Firefighters used breathing apparatus to enter the house to check no one was inside.
Three fire engines from Orange Fire Station were called to the blaze as the house was in close proximity to houses either side.
Mr Hughes said workers from the gas supply company were called to isolate the source of the gas at the front of the house.
Police posted a guard on the house all night Saturday waiting for fire investigators to arrive at the scene yesterday.
While police were keeping watch on the burned out house, a party in a house opposite spilled out on to the street according to Sergeant Turner with police issuing warnings for fighting in front of the police vehicle and excessive noise.
Sergeant Turner said when police heard a threat from a man that he was going to stab someone in the house, police ran in to find themselves confronted by an 18-year-old man who tried to fight police.
He appeared in Orange Local Court on Sunday morning charged with assaulting police and offensive conduct.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au
