An early Thursday morning fire at a detached garage in Butler is being investigated as an arson, authorities said.

A neighbor called 911 around 3:35 a.m. to report the fire at the two-stall cinder block garage on the 300 block of East Brady Street. No one was injured and damage was minimal.

A Butler Fire Department crew arrived quickly and saw smoke. A single hose line was deployed, and the fire was out in a matter of minutes, said Lt. Richard Walters of the fire department.

The garage, owned by James Cogley, contained miscellaneous items of little or no value, Butler police said. Damage was estimated at $500 or less. The property was not insured.

Cogley told investigators that unknown people for the past few months had been throwing junk into the garage without his permission, police said.

Trooper DuWayne Baird, a deputy fire marshal, was called to investigate. He ruled the fire was deliberately set.

Baird and city Detective Lt. Chad Rensel, who is also investigating, said the arson finding was based in part because the fire happened in the middle of the night, the garage was unsecured, had no utilities and there was no evidence of squatters.

Rensel said later in the afternoon that police have no suspects, and they are still conducting interviews.

The city code enforcement officer also was to inspect the property to determine if it would have to be torn down.