SUSPICIOUS FIRE: Vacant House Burns

A morning house fire on Des Moines’ east side has been ruled suspicious.

Des Moines firefighters were called to 1509 E. 36^th Court around 4:15 Monday morning after a neighbor called, reporting flames and embers coming from the home’s front porch.

When firefighters arrived they found the house and the detached garage in flames.

Witnesses told fire investigators the home had been vacant and the ownership had recently changed. Investigators are also interviewing a woman seen crawling through the front porch window of the home on Sunday. The woman had allegedly lived there previously and made comments about the sale of the home.

The house is estimated to be a total loss and investigators are not releasing the cause of the fire.