The fire that burned through the back bedroom of a Heriot shearers' quarters on August 18 is the subject of a police investigation.
Fire risk management officer Stuart Ide, of Queenstown, said the fire investigation had been completed and was now in the hands of Gore police.
''It looks as if it's been deliberately lit,'' he said.
A neighbour who called 111 on the night told the Otago Daily Times she had heard a ''bang'' and looked outside to see flames outside the shearers' quarters back bedroom.
Fire gutted the bedroom at the back of the house and spread to the ceiling before crews from Heriot and Tapanui extinguished the flames.
The Heriot Volunteer Fire Brigade's quick response was credited with containing the fire to just the back bedroom and ceiling.
The crew had just finished a rural fire training session at the station 400m away when the 111 call came in about 10.10pm.
Due to initial concerns there was someone in the house at the time, two members of the Heriot crew and two firefighters from Tapanui entered wearing breathing apparatus to ensure the house was empty.
Police would not comment on the active investigation, but said witnesses should contact Gore police at (03) 203-9300, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
