Orange fire 'suspicious,' under investigation - 12 News KBMT and K-JAC. News, Weather and Sports for SE Texas

Orange fire 'suspicious,' under investigation

Firefighters in Orange say a blaze that destroyed a house in the 1100 block of 10th Street appears to be suspicious.

The City of Orange Fire Department was called to the house located at 1117 10th St. around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. Firefighters said there was heavy fire showing from all the windows when they arrived.

The volume of the fire forced the first fire engine crew to take defensive positions to protect the homes next door. After additional crews arrived, firefighters quickly attacked the fire with heavy water streams and extinguished the fire in approximately 30 minutes.

West Orange and Pinehurst Fire Departments were put on stand-by during the incident to respond to any other emergencies in the city.

Investigators say the home seemed to be vacant but fire crews completed an extensive search to insure no one was in the home.

The owner of the home, who lived next door, arrived at the scene and notified the fire commander that the home was in fact vacant.

The Fire Marshal was called to the scene to investigate the cause and origin of the fire. The Fire Marshal determined that the fire was suspicious and is currently seeking any information about people that were seen in the area around 3 a.m.

Officials ask anyone with information about the fire to call the Fire Marshal's office at 409-883-1050.