The Hopper fire deemed suspicious: Cambridge Fire Department
CTV
Cambridge Fire says it’s believed people were living in the vacant building and one person was seen leaving the burning structure.
The Cambridge Fire Department says the blaze that gutted a historic downtown Preston building Saturday night is believed to be suspicious.
Crews were called to the now-vacant venue – formerly home to The Hopper, a dance club and pub – around 8:30 p.m.
Eric Yates, chief fire prevention officer with Cambridge Fire, said people were seen leaving the burning structure and are believed to have been living inside.
“There were some occupants inside the building and one that was seen leaving the building, so we're treating it as suspicious at this time,” Yates said Sunday.
The building at the corner of King Street and Lowther Street was built in the 1800s and is considered a landmark in Preston.
An online real estate listing advertises the vacant property as a “redevelopment opportunity” with a listed price of $2.1 million.
In 2015, another fire at the site displaced at least eight residents from a rooming house, which at the time was on the second floor. The Hopper was located on the main floor.
