A home on the city's south side was badly damaged by fire overnight, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Smoke and flames were pouring out of the home in the 400 block of Wharton arrived shortly before midnight.
It took crews more than a half hour to put out the fire.. There was nobody inside, officials say the family who lived there moved out a month ago.
Arson investigators are on the scene.. But on chilly nights, firefighters are increasingly troubled by homeless people and drug users who break into empty homes, especially ones which have recently been vacated.. They frequently set fires to stay warm, although the cause of this fire has not been determined.