A fire that ripped through an Iredell County home Wednesday morning is being investigated as "suspicious." The fire broke out around 4 a.m. at a home in the 600 block of Phifer Road in Cleveland, near the Iredell and Rowan County line. Firefighters reported seeing heavy flames when they arrived on scene. According to the fire marshal, it appears the fire started in the center of the structure. "I am treating this fire as suspicious as the owners have had some prior issues with someone forcing entry to the structure on multiple occasions within the last year," the fire marshal said. One lane of Highway 70 towards Salisbury was blocked as firefighters worked to control the fire.