Firefighters say squatters are likely to blame for a fire this morning in an abandoned home.
Firefighters received reports of a fire at an abandoned home at 509 W. I St. at 6:15 a.m. Thursday, according to a Yakima Fire Department news release.
When the first of the 20 firefighters arrived, they saw fire coming from an upstairs window of the one and a half story home, according to the release.
When they entered the home, crews found that the fire had started on, and burned through, the second floor and was then burning on the first floor.
"A fire like this when it burns through the floor creates a major concern for firefighters," said Yakima fire captain and spokesman Jeff Pfaff. "It can become a fall hazard or even a floor collapse when our guys are working to put the fire out."
Crews spent about an hour and a half putting out the fire, removing debris and monitoring the home for any fire in the attic space.