Police are calling a fire at a Gatineau tanning salon suspicious.

Fire crews and police were called to the scene at 151 Gréber Blvd. around 10:15 p.m. on Sunday. Officials confirmed the fire started at the Bronzage Bo-Tan Plus tanning salon in a Gatineau plaza.

Residents who live near the salon said they heard the sound of an explosion around 10 p.m.

“It was a very intense boom, like I thought it was a bomb,” said Marc Gollain, who lives behind the building.

Another neighbour said he watched fire crews battle the heavy flames seen on the second-floor of the building.

“When I got outside half of the wall was hanging and the other half was already down. It was already demolished and later on, about an hour after, firefighters were on the roof chainsawing across to let the steam out,” said Eric Lacelle, who lives across the street.   

Officers say the fire was under control around 1:45 a.m.

Police returned to the scene Monday to investigate.

“The officers reported to me what they find, plus some interview with the witness, that’s the reason we consider it now suspicious,” said Lieutenant Jean-Francois Beauchamp with Gatineau Police.

Police say no one was injured in the fire, but neighbouring businesses suffered smoke and water damage. Combined damages at the commercial building are estimated around $1 million dollars.

The investigation is ongoing.