A fire that destroyed a Riverside home was under investigation Monday as a possible act of arson.
The non-injury blaze was reported about 4:15 p.m. Sunday in the 2300 block of 12th Street, near Eucalyptus Avenue, on the east end of the city, according to Riverside Fire Department Battalion Chief Jeff DeLaurie.
He said five engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames raging inside the single-story vacant property.
“Riverside firefighters were forced to take a defensive stand on the burning structure and protect exposures on the sides and back of the structure,” DeLaurie said, adding that none of the surrounding properties were impacted.
“The fire was placed under control in about 40 minutes, with firefighters remaining at the incident to mop up for a little over two hours,” he said. “The building was heavily damaged and left uninhabitable.”
The total estimated damage was $275,000.
According to DeLaurie, the source of the blaze was suspicious, and the fact that it spread so rapidly pointed to the possibility that an accelerant was used.
Anyone with information was asked to contact arson investigators at 951-826-5737.