A southern Ontario farmhouse where a bizarre basement dungeon was recently discovered went up in flames overnight, Durham Regional Police said on Friday.

The abandoned farmhouse near Concession road 7 just in northwest Pickering burned to the ground after catching fire at around 1 a.m. on Friday.

The home, which lies on property that is owned by the local airport, had been marked for demolition in late November when contractors found a recently-built dungeon in the basement.

Durham Regional Police launched an investigation into the dungeon, which investigators believed may have been "solely designed to hold someone captive."

Const. Nancy Van Roy said the fire appeared to be suspicious and would likely be investigated. The Ontario Fire Marshal's office had been called to the scene.