Fire investigators were back at the scene of a destructive fire in Collingwood on Monday.

Crews were called back to the home on Surfside Crescent after receiving reports of debris flaring back up. Investigators also took some time to collect further evidence to help determine a cause.

"Right now I know the insurance company has placed them, so they have a residence for now, and they seem to be doing ok both of them,” says Collingwood’s deputy fire chief Ross Parr.

According to neighbors, the circumstances make the story even more tragic. They say the couple had only moved in last year after the young man's mother, who used to live in the home, died of cancer.  

“They’re a nice friendly couple, yeah. I usually talk to them when their walking their dogs," says neighbour Blair Campbell. “It's kind of rough for them. Lose the mother and now the house burned down.”

A woman was inside the home at the time of the fire. According to Collingwood fire chief Trent Elyea, the woman was asleep when the smoke alarm went off.

“As you can see, it got into the wall went up over top and took the roof off the house. It could have been a tragic ending, but the smoke alarms clearly made a difference,” Elyea says.

The woman was able to escape without injury. At this point in the investigation, Elyea believes the fire started in the garage, as a result of an electrical issue. Damage has been pegged at $750,000.

The investigation is ongoing.