Investigators suspect arson is to blame for a structure fire at a vacant house on 8th Aleo Avenue in East Rockingham Tuesday morning.

East Rockingham Fire Chief Mitch Watson said the blaze was reported at about 10 a.m.

“It appears the fire started on the back porch,” he said. “This is an arson situation.”

Watson said he est mated the value of the home at about $20,000, and the damage to be at about $9,000.

The case is under investigation by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Responding to the fire were the East Rockingham, Cordova and Hamlet fire departments.

Watson said the flames were subdued in about 20 minutes, and firefighters were on the scene another couple of hours working clean-up and conducting their own investigation.

No one was injured.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at (910) 997-8283 or the Richmond County Crimestoppers at (910) 997-5454.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or be e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.