PERRY – The Friday evening fire that destroyed a building at 907 Jernigan St. has been deemed suspicious by local investigators.

Perry Fire Department Capt. Doug Straka said the investigation is just getting under way, and it’s early for details, but it’s clear that the fire had “a suspicious origin.”

The building was not connected to electricity, and there was no heat source present, Straka said. There was no lightning that night, nor any other obvious, normal cause.

“It had help from something. Or somebody,” Straka said. If there was help, then finding the somebody will be up to a different department.

The Perry Police Department is already in the loop on this case.

“It’s a very, very suspicious fire,” said Capt. Bill Phelps, head of investigations for the department. Phelps said no fuels were present in the building, which was vacant.

A coordinated investigation has begun with the two local departments and assistance the state fire marshal’s office and Phil Smith, an investigator with the Houston County Fire Department, Phelps said.