Squirrels blamed in fire

A family of squirrels is to blame for a fire that destroyed a St. Catharines home Thursday morning.

The blaze at 26 Margery Avenue started in the attic.

Flames were shooting 30 feet into the air when firefighters arrived.

The owner of the house wasn’t home.

Nearby homes were evacuated.

Fire officials believe that the nesting squirrels created an electrical hazard in the eaves by chewing at electrical wiring.

The house will be torn down later in the afternoon.