LUCERNE, Calif. – Fire officials are investigating the cause of a Monday house fire in Lucerne, which Northshore Fire’s chief said appears suspicious in nature.

The two-story structure, located in the 5800 block of Highway 20, was reported on fire at around 1:30 a.m. Monday, as Lake County News has reported.

By the time firefighters arrived on scene, the structure was fully involved and already badly damaged, according to Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos, whose agency – along with Lakeport Fire – responded to the incident.

The home was believed to be unoccupied when the fire started, Beristianos said at the scene. Two other nearby structures also sustained damage because of the fire.

Later on Monday, Beristianos told Lake County News, “We have reason to believe the fire is suspicious.”

At the scene that morning, Beristianos had reported that there were subjects seen walking away from the fire area, but deputies who responded had been unable to locate them in the area.

He said Monday evening that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was working closely with the Lake County Arson Task Force to investigate the fire.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.