House fire near downtown Modesto considered suspicious

A fire at a home on Oak Street just southwest of downtown is being investigated as possible arson, according to the Modesto Fire Department.

Firefighters were dispatched to a vacant home on the 100 block of Oak at about 2 p.m., said Battalion Chief Randy Anderson. The fire, which began in a bedroom closet, had been spotted quickly, so firefighters were able to put it out before it spread into the attic.

The property owners arrived at the home just before firefighters did, Anderson said. There were no furnishings or occupants because the tenants recently had been evicted, Anderson said. The owners reported they were doing repair work to rent the house again.

“It’s under investigation because it’s definitely suspicious,” Anderson said of the fire. Neighbors saw some people in and around the house before the fire, he said. A fire investigator and arson investigator both are looking into the cause.

Anderson said the fire did about $5,000 to $8,000 in damage.

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 8:05 AM with the headline "House fire near downtown Modesto considered suspicious."