House fire called 'suspicious'

An empty home for sale in west Santa Rosa caught fire and burned early Wednesday and fire officials are considering the cause suspicious.

Santa Rosa firefighters were called to the house fire on Shawnee Street just after midnight and were there until 2:40 a.m.

It appears the fire started in the kitchen area, said Battalion Chief Andy Pforsich.

The gas and electricity were shut off as the house wasn’t occupied. Without those sources, a typical cause wasn’t likely, making the fire suspicious, he said.

Fire officials Wednesday were investigating.

The house was empty of furniture and damage was estimated at $140,000 to the structure, Pforsich said.

Shawnee Street is near West Steele Lane.