THUNDER BAY – Officials are calling a Friday night fire that badly damaged a longtime local business "suspicious."
Heavy smoke and flames were pouring from the back of Fresh Air Experience and Cyclepath just after 9:30 p.m. when Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue arrived on scene.
The fire spread inside the showroom when heavy stock piled at the rear of the building hampered suppression efforts.
Firefighters forced entry to the May St. front of the bicyle shop when the fire spread to the showroom. Then crews deployed the aerial ladder when it broke through the roof.
When it was finally quashed, the fire had badly damaged the rear of the building, causing extensive smoke damage to the rest of the business.
Fire and Rescue issued a release on Saturday morning, stating "the fire is suspicious in nature."
Thunder Bay Police Service officers still have the building cordoned off and are investigating the incident.
No one was inside the building when it burned.
Fresh Air issued a statement on its Facebook page at 1 a.m. assuring patrons that owners would be on site on Saturday and phones are in operation to continue to serve the business' customers.