BY IAN CROUCH
A crime scene remains in place at a Nelson Bay home destroyed by fire on Wednesday.
Seven Fire & Rescue and four RFS crews were called to the two storey brick and tile home on Galoola Drive just after 2.30pm to find the property engulfed in flames.
Firefighting efforts were hampered by several gas bottles which exploded during the incident as the building collapsed at the height of the blaze.
It took crews more than three hours to bring the fire under control and a crew has remained at the house overnight to monitor for flare-ups.
Neighbours have told police the house has been unoccupied for a number of years, prompting speculation the property could've been occupied by squatters.
Forensic officers from Newcastle will arrive on Thursday morning to investigate the cause of the fire.
