Squatter's Cigarette Burns Vacant Ferndale House

A squatter's cigarette appears to be the cause of a fire that destroyed a vacant house on Saturday morning on the 600 block of Stratford, Ferndale Fire Marshal Brian Batten said.

Batten said the home had been vacant since the owner died about a year ago.

"There was furniture in the house, people seemed to be coming and going, in and out of it," Batten said.

There was bedding that showed signs of a squatter. "Someone was sleeping in the home, smoking throughout it," he said.

Batten said the fire started in the back bedroom and was caused by a cigarette.

Though the gas, electric and water had been turned off for some time, Batten said that neighbors saw people coming in and out of the home.

Batten has been unable to contact the family to see if the house is insured, adding that he knows a son of the previous owner lives in California.

"The house was a total loss," Batten said, adding that about $50,000 to $70,000 in damage was estimated.

No firefighters were injured. Batten said the department will try to find the owners and said the city will move to have the structure demolished.