ATHERTON (KRON) — An abandoned house fire in Atherton is being deemed suspicious. According to police, squatters may have started the fire in the single-story home located at 29 Shearer Drive. When firefighters arrived shortly after 5 a.m., the house was complete engulfed in flames
Fire fighters were concerned the floor could collapse into the basement, so they fought the fire defensively from outside, said Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman.
It took over 45 minutes to control the blaze, according to Schapelhouman.
Police say no one was in the home at the time of the fire, but brought in a dog to search for remains just to be sure.
No firefighters were injured.