Fire in ‘total loss’ vacant house being investigated as an arson

SPRINGFIELD — Officials are investigating a fire that engulfed a vacant duplex in the 300 block of East Rose Street late on Wednesday as an arson, according to police records.

Area residents reported seeing flames coming from a house near Clifton Avenue at around 10:30 p.m.

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“We had a fully involved vacant structure,” Capt. Charles Alexander of the Springfield Fire/Rescue Division said.

“It’s a total loss,” he said.

The house was vacant, it’s not believed anyone was inside and the cause of the fire is under investigation, Alexander said.

However, since there were no utilities on at the time of the fire, it is being considered suspicious.

No firefighters were injured.