MT. VERNON, IL — A fire that destroyed a vacant Mt. Vernon home early Friday morning has been deemed suspicious and is under investigation.

Mt. Vernon firefighters responded around 12:30 a.m. Friday to fire at a vacant home in the 700 block of South 18th Street in Mt. Vernon when a neighbor called 911 after hearing an explosion and spotting the fire.

Upon their arrival, firefighters noted flames were showing from the upper story of the one and a half story home. The blaze spread through the structure and caused a portion of the roof to collapse.

The State Fire Marshal’s office has been called in to investigate.