Local

Officials investigate possibly suspicious fire in Clay County

The State Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating a possibly suspicious house fire in Clay County.

The fire broke out early Sunday morning at a home near Blairmore Boulevard.

Neighbors told Action News Jax the fire started inside a jeep at the home. They said they were awakened by the fire at around 4 a.m. Sunday.

The fire melted the jeep as well as most of the front part of the home.

Neighbors told Action News's Jax Kevin Cole that one of the younger sons in the family was awake at the time. He heard the pop and alerted the family.

This morning the family said that all 5 people and their pets got out safely.

But now the question is how the jeep caught on fire.

Neighbors said law enforcement came by their homes this morning and told them they suspected arson and to look out for anything suspicious.

“The jeep sits under there and it would be very easy for someone to walk by and throw something in there,” neighbor Diana Silva said. “So that’s all they suspect because that’s what caused the fire.”

The Red Cross was on scene to help the family as well. While everyone did manage to make it out of the home, family told Action News Jax they lost their young son to cancer a couple of years ago and that a lot of his items were lost in the fire.