Firefighters battled an early Sunday morning fire at 1402 Holly Avenue.

Neighbors spotted heavy fire in the two-story house, which they say has been vacant about five years. Several of them tried to get inside to check for occupants, and one man cut his arm after breaking a window. He was taken to Miami Valley Hospital.

Dayton District Fire Chief Rennes Bowers said the fire was "very suspicious."

He said the fire was at the rear of the house. He added that it started in the basement and worked its way up to the first and second floors.

Bowers said firefighters conducted a primary and secondary search, and found no one inside the house.

"Police are here, he said. "The fire investigator is on the scene. There was lots of fire and smoke damage."

He estimated damage at $10,000.

Victor Brown lives down the street from the house.  He said he and his wife had just come home from a nightclub when they saw “nothin’ but smoke.” 

Brown said he met two other neighbors at the house, and they tried to get inside to check for occupants.

“The flames were about as high as I was” said Brown.

They did not find anyone inside.

The fire remains under investigation.