BRUNSWICK -- A fire that nearly burned a vacant home to the ground earlier Monday morning has been ruled arson, according to the State Fire Marshal's Office.

The fire at 698 Pleasant Hill Road started shortly after 3 a.m. Monday in a home that was vacant and up for auction next month.

Fire crews arrived to find it fully involved, with flames shooting from all directions. The fire was originally suspect because there is no power source or heat source to the vacant house.

A state fire marshal investigator did determine that it was started by a human element but did not provide details.

The Brunswick Police Department now begins the task of finding the person or persons responsible for setting the fire.

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