CHAMPAIGN — The Champaign Fire Department planned to send investigators to an unoccupied home on Champaign's north side following a fire that Champaign Fire Chef Doug Forsman called "suspicious."

According to Deputy Chief Eric Mitchell, firefighters were called to an unoccupied single story brick house at 612 E. Beardsley Ave., C, at 7:32 p.m. Tuesday.

When firefighters arrived a few minutes later, Forsman said, they found smoke and flames coming from the house, with a stream of smoke pouring out of a west side window.

Firefighters broke through a garage door, the front door and several windows to gain entry to the house.

Mitchell said firefighters had the fire under control by 7:50 p.m. and remained on the scene to put out possible hot spots.

Mitchell said the home had been unoccupied, but the utilities were still on.

"We searched the house and didn't find anybody," Forsman said. "The cause is suspicious and will be investigated."

No firefighters were injured putting out the fire, he said.

Forsman said there was extensive damage to the house, but it was too early to put a dollar figure on the amount of damage.

According to the Champaign County assessor's website, the house is owned by First Federal Savings Bank of Champaign.