A homeowner who made headlines for plastering her Byron property with signs slamming a building contractor has been burned out of her house.

Allison Stacey irked her neighbours on Boler Road — and landed in the crosshairs of London’s bylaw office — earlier this year after she erected homemade signs calling out a local contractor for allegedly not finishing work on her west-end home.

On Tuesday, Stacey was returning to her single-storey house shortly after 9 a.m. when she saw it surrounded by firefighters and police officers. She ran up to the emergency responders and collapsed to the ground after learning about the early morning blaze.

“It’s like my worst nightmare,” Stacey said fighting back tears.

Stacey said she left her house early in the morning to walk her dog, a shih tzu named Buddy, in nearby Springbank Park.

Firefighters were called to 503 Boler Rd. about 6:30 a.m. for a structure fire. Crews found a basement fire had spread to parts of the first floor, causing extensive smoke damage, said fire inspector Jack Burt.

“Nobody was home at the time of the fire,” he said.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation and no damage estimate was available Monday, Burt said.

The Ontario Fire Marshal’s office was called to investigate the blaze. Police closed down a section of Boler between Byron Baseline and Wayne roads for several hours Tuesday.

A detective from the street crimes unit could be seen speaking with fire officials and interviewing Stacey, who was barred from entering her home until the fire marshal’s office completes its investigation.

Const. Sandasha Bough said officers will hold the scene until the probe is finished.

Despite being contacted by bylaw officials in recent months, Stacey’s campaign against the contractor hasn’t stopped.

Spray painted messages disparaging the contractor cover blue tarps draped over her half-finished home. A large sign flanked by two Grim Reaper mannequins on the front lawn says, “contractor ran with $.”

Stacey previously said she hired a contractor last year to put on a new roof, install exterior stone and siding, and build a new fence.

Neighbours have complained to the bylaw office, saying the property is an eyesore and the signs are creating a public safety issue. Motorists often slow down on the busy two-lane street to gawk at the signs.

One neighbour, who asked not to be identified, said Stacey recently stepped up her sign-shaming campaign.

“Two weeks ago, it all started ramping up,” said the neighbour. “We’ve asked her repeatedly to take them down.”

London’s bylaw chief, Orest Katolyk, said his office has removed signs from city property in front of Stacey’s house multiple times.

“We just let her keep her signs on her private property and we have never fined her,” he said.

“We wanted to make sure the city property is free and clear of signs.”

dcarruthers@postmedia.com

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