A fire at a home in Bridgewater, N.S., has been deemed suspicious.

Investigators believe the fire on LaHave Street was deliberately set in the basement of the two-story home.

The blaze was reported by a witness who saw the flames from the street around 5 a.m. Sunday.

Nearly 80 firefighters helped battle the fire and were able to keep it from spreading to neighbouring homes.

A family of three had been living on the ground floor, but they were not home at the time of the fire.

Bridgewater police are asking anyone with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers.