Brownwood Fire Marshal Buddy Preston was called to investigate the suspicious nature of a house fire on Wednesday night in Early.

A vacant home in the 300 block of County Road 615 caught fire Wednesday night around 10:30 PM and was fully engulfed as emergency responders arrived to the scene.

According to Preston, the home had been occupied for approximately 18 months before being vacated and burning.  Oncor reported to Preston that the home still had electric service at the time of the fire.

Neighbors report that the home was left unsecured and that the back door stayed open all the time.

Preston stated that it appeared someone had been at the home prior to the fire.

“It appears someone may have been there trying to stay warm and were using the fireplace to burn wood,” said Preston.  He explained that it appeared that brush from the front yard, such as fallen tree limbs were used as a fuel in the fireplace.

Neighbors also had reported that an unknown person had been seen in the area recently, but not in the last couple of days, according to Preston.

Preston was continuing his investigation mid afternoon on Thursday.