Neighbours say two Molotov cocktails started a blaze Saturday night that destroyed this house at 1744 Bearspaw Drive West. The house was owned by former Syncrude president and COO Jim Carter. (RICHARD LIEBRECHT/Sun Media)

EDMONTON -- A blaze that gutted the southside home of a recently retired Syncrude executive has been deemed an arson.

Neighbours said the house at 1744 Bearspaw Drive West was firebombed Saturday night with two Molotov cocktails.

Jim Carter, former Syncrude president and COO, and his family weren't home at the time of the fire, which caused an estimated $850,000 damage and left neighbours shocked.

Sandy Bradec said she and her husband were watching a movie in their home across the street around 8 p.m. Saturday, when they noticed a blinding glow.

"I looked up and saw our rafters were glowing. It was so bright," she said.

She ran out and saw that the glow was coming from the house across the street.

"The whole house was engulfed. It was horrible," she said.

The house was already fully ablaze when firefighters arrived at 8:16 p.m. Fire investigator John Muir described the house as a total loss.

Carter, who lived in the home with his psychologist wife, Dr. Lorraine Bray, retired in April 2007 after 27 years with Syncrude. He had been president and COO since October 1997.

The oilsands industry veteran and father of six children, was described as "a champion of oilsands development" in a Syncrude press release detailing his retirement.

"Jim was instrumental in the introduction of truck and shovel mining into the oilsands industry, and led the way in developing a variety of advances in productivity and environmental performance that have helped Syncrude achieve the success we have," CEO Charles Ruigrok said at the time.

Carter currently serves on the Alberta Research Council's board of directors, according to the group's website.

Residents of the upscale neighbourhood poured into the cul-de-sac yesterday morning. Those living on the street were particularly shocked to find Carter and Bray were the victims of an arson.

"This is just so unfair," said Bradec. She described Carter as a nice guy and a positive community member.

"He'd clear the whole cul-de-sac (of snow)," she said, adding he kept a small tractor in the garage. "He is such a nice guy."

But Carter's property was hit by vandals just this past summer.

Neighbour David Antoniuk said he was out early one morning last summer when he saw the windows of Carter's Cadillac Escalade smashed, glass littering the street.

Police confirmed the EPS arson unit will be called in to investigate what they are calling "a suspicious fire."

Syncrude was in the news just last week after environmentalists launched a private prosecution against the oilsands producer over the much-publicized deaths of 500 ducks in a toxic tailings pond last spring.