A mother of three young children is searching for answers as to how her car caught fire early Tuesday morning.

Tracy Lawther said her car was parked on the street outside her 100-block Mackey Avenue apartment when it burned about 3:30 a.m.

Lawther believes someone intentionally set the fire.

“Someone opened the door and torched it,” she said.

Police Capt. David Dalcamo said the department is investigating the fire, which started on the passenger side of the vehicle.

He said the fire is considered suspicious, but the department had no suspects or motive as of Wednesday afternoon. Dalcamo said the investigating officer is waiting to speak with Lawther for additional information.

Lawther said a note was found on the car parked behind her 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier. The note said the car needed to be parked in front of its owner’s home and needed to be moved.

Neighbors along the narrow street said parking is always tight and competitive, and that similar notes were common in the past.

One neighbor, who asked not be identified, said it is plausible the note had been on the car for days and was unrelated to the fire.

Lawther said she had always parked her car around that spot, which is the closest she could get to her apartment. She does not know who would have set fire to the vehicle or for what reason.

“We were all home sleeping when the cops knocked on the door and told us our car was on fire,” Lawther said. “I didn’t believe it at first.”

Lawther, who has three children ages 8, 6, and 1 year old, said the car is the family’s only one.

“It’s put me in a big bind,” she said. “I can’t take them to the fair. I can’t take them to (Moraine State Park). I can’t even go shopping now.”

In the vehicle were three children’s car seats, the children’s shoes, diapers, and toys.

“I have no idea who would do that to a car full of kids’ stuff,” Lawther said.

Neighbors on the street found the car ablaze after being awakened by a barking dog, Lawther said.

Fire Chief Nick Ban said the Cavalier was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived, but they quickly extinguished the flames before other vehicles were damaged.

All units were cleared by 4:10 a.m.

Lawther said she now must wait for answers.

“I’m very upset by this,” she said. “But justice will be served.”