The home, built in 1903 for James McLaren Muirhead, is a combination of Edwardian and Victorian Queen Anne architectural styles and has distinct features such as a corner tower and a widow’s walk. It suffered wide smoke and water damage as a result of the fire, which appeared to start in a back corner of the house in the old kitchen area. Repairs will cost about $1.7 million, said Ben Schweitzer, whose company, EPIC Management, is working on the project. Muirhead House is one of the few private residences in the country with a national historic site designation, which it received in 1991, following heritage designation from the City of Victoria in 1974.