Suspicious early morning garage fire in Philadelphia under investigation: officials

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities believed an early morning garage fire that caused residents of two homes to be displaced was intentionally started. Now they say they are investigating the fire as suspicious.

Firefighters were called to a home on the 4100 block of Decatur Street just after 4:30 a.m. for reports of a fire inside a rear garage.

Firefighters were able to place the blaze under control within about half an hour, according to preliminary information shared by police.

No one was hurt in the fire, authorities say, but residents of two homes were displaced. Investigators concluded that the fire was "an act of arson." 

Though Philadelphia police originally said the fire was ruled arson, they said later that the Fire Marshal's Office is still investigating. 

A law-enforcement source tells FOX 29 they are investigating the fire as suspicious.

A twin home, along with a garage with a classic car inside were heavily damaged in the fire, according to the owner's friend.

"He had a nice car in the garage back there, gone, completely, completely gone," said Andrew Houck. "It’s just messed up what happened to his property and some other people’s property."

One family was forced out of one side of the twin home, and the homeowner of the other side tells FOX 29 he recently purchased it and planned to fix it up and move in next month.

Several neighbors say they woke up to loud noises before they saw the flames.

"I was out here about 4:20 watering my flowers and you hear the popping, everybody thought it was gunshots, because it was so loud," said Joseph Krause, a neighbor. "I came running down here, knocking on the doors at the houses, to make sure everybody was out."

No arrests were reported immediately following the fire and police have not shared leads on any possible suspects.