WASHINGTON TWP — Investigators believe someone intentionally tried to set a Route 38 mobile home on fire Monday about noon.

No one was home and firefighters quickly put out the fire before it got going.

Trooper DuWayne Baird, deputy fire marshal, said he has ruled the fire an arson but there are no suspects.

“There were two points of origin,” Baird said.

The unknown suspect apparently tried to light fire to — or near — a pair of woven wood baskets, each containing a plastic plant, in the living room.

“One burned out,” Baird said, “and there was evidence left behind that something was lit on fire and placed in the (other) basket.”

Damage was minimal but it was enough to leave the family of five homeless, authorities said.

Police identified the occupants as Crystal Brown; her daughter, Lindsey Perrine; Perrine’s boyfriend, Jeffrey Wolfe; and Wolfe’s two children, 13 and 9.

Otto Schiberl of Emlenton owns the singlewide trailer.

Brown about 10:30 a.m. left the home to visit her estranged husband, who lives nearby, police said. Perrine and Wolfe left around 11:30 a.m. joining Brown. The children were in school.

Wolfe and Perrine did not lock the door when they left, authorities said.

Later, Brown and Perrine drove back together to the home. On their return trip, Perrine first noticed smoke coming from the trailer, Baird said. She ran to a neighbor’s home to call 911.

Wolfe arrived a short time later and rushed to the door.

“He opened it and saw a lot of smoke,” Baird said.

About 10 firefighters from North Washington and West Sunbury got there and quickly put out the blaze.

“It was extinguished,” said Ryan Enscoe, assistant chief for the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department, “probably within 10 minutes of our arrival.”

Crews used less than 50 gallons of water. All that burned, investigators said, was a 3-foot-by-1-foot section of carpeting in the living room near the wood baskets holding the fake plants.

The baskets, Baird noted, were about four feet apart.

Baird said he spoke to the occupants but none of them could provide the name of anyone who may have had a motive to start the fire.

He also spoke to neighbors. No one recounted seeing or hearing anything suspicious before the fire broke out.

Damage was estimated at about $200. The occupants had no renter’s insurance. Schiberl also had no insurance.

The Butler chapter of the American Red Cross is helping the victims with emergency needs including housing.

Baird, meanwhile, is hoping for the public’s help in providing a tip or some kind of information that could aid his investigation. Police can be called at 724-284-8100.

“It’s strange,” he said, “that this would happen in broad daylight on a bright, sunny afternoon.”