Maple Ridge firefighters saved surrounding homes, but one under construction was destroyed by fire early Sunday.
Firefighters from halls one and three were called to 207th Street and River Road at about 4 a.m.
"It was fully involved when we got there," said Maple Ridge Fire Chief Dane Spence.
What was burning was a house under construction that had just finished the lock-up stage, with doors and windows in place. But there was no drywall installed yet, allowing flames to race through the wooden frame.
"When they're under construction, they burn vigourously," Spence said.
Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to nearby homes, but two were damaged by heat.
Investigators are still trying to find a cause.
"We don't know what started it, but we're treating it as a suspicious fire," Spence said.
There were no injuries.