Chief: Vacant house fire appears suspicious

A fire at a vacant Cape Girardeau home appears suspicious in origin, officials said Tuesday. The fire department responded to the 500 block of South Ellis Street at 9:45 p.m. Monday for a house fire, chief Rick Ennis said. Within minutes, the blaze at the one-story home was brought under control, he said. Officials believe the blaze began at the inside rear of the home. Because the home was vacant with no evidence of squatters, there was no source of ignition, Ennis said. Samples from the scene were taken to a lab to test for accelerants, but the results could take several weeks to return, Ennis said. Significant damage was done to the home, but it was not a total loss. No one was injured in the blaze.