A suspicious fire destroyed a vacant home Wednesday night in the 300 block of East Jefferson Street, authorities said.

No one was injured in the fire that was called in by a passing motorist about 9:30 p.m.

The two-story house has not been occupied for some time and there were no utilities connected there, said Butler Fire Chief Nick Ban.

“There was heavy fire upon arrival on the front first floor of the structure,” Ban said. The VA Butler Healthcare fire department assisted city fire crews.

Butler police helped evacuate tenants from a small apartment building next door to the home, which is one house east of May’s Music Shoppe.

Firefighters quickly had the blaze under control but the ground floor was gutted.

Ban plans to have the house condemned today. Online records listed the owner with an address in Nashville, Tenn.

Ban estimated the damage at $25,000. He said the property has a value of $55,000.

City fire crews were back at the station about 11 p.m.