Arson suspected in Lake Elmo house fire

Authorities said arson was suspected in an early morning fire today in Lake Elmo.

Dispatchers received a 911 call at 4:14 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 29, in reference to a residential structure fire in the 5300 block of Lake Elmo Avenue, according to a news release.

The fire had been extinguished by the time deputies arrived. According to the release, the homeowner told officers he suspected the fire had been intentionally set, reporting that he heard several loud crashes and a vehicle speed away from the house as he was calling 911.

The house sustained minor damage, the release states.

The incident is under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the state fire marshal's office.

Tags: crime and courts, news, crime