Investigators finding few clues at Czech Village fire scene

Clues about the cause of last week's fire in flood-ravaged Czech Village are few and far between, authorities said.

Fire burned the single-story home at 56 19th Ave. SW to the ground early Thursday morning. Houses on both sides, at 54 and 60 19th Ave. SW, were damaged, but no one was injured.

None of the houses had utilities or occupancy permits, leading officials to immediately label the blaze “suspicious.”

Capt. Al Brockhohn, the Fire Department's lead investigator, said the case is classified as “inactive,” and a cause won't be determined unless new information is received. He usually interviews neighbors, but only a couple have returned to the neighborhood.

“There aren't even any doors to knock on,” Brockhohn said. “There's no one in that area. It's just a needle in a haystack at this point.”

Brockhohn said the person who reported the fire did not see anything other than the fire. No lightning was reported.

There are no suspects in the case, Brockhohn said.

“Was there somebody in there? Absolutely,” Brockhohn said. “It didn't spontaneously combust.”

The home at 56 19th Ave. SW is owned by Joyce A. Hayzlett, according to the City Assessor's Web site.

The Fire Department has responded to about six incidents at vacant, flood-damaged properties since the flood of June 2008, spokesman Greg Buelow said.

Brockhohn said owners of flood-damaged properties should make them as secure as possible and check on them occasionally, if possible. Police are continuing regular patrols in the area.