Authorities investigate cause of West Bridgewater fire that destroyed vacant house

By Chris Stuck-Girard, Globe Correspondent

A fire in West Bridgewater destroyed a vacant one-family home early this morning, according to fire officials.

The fire at 99 Pleasant St. started about 2 a.m., according to an employee at the West Bridgewater fire department who referred further questions to the state fire marshal’s office.

No one was living in the house, which was under construction, said Jennifer Mieth, a spokeswoman for State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan.

The fire marshal is investigating the fire’s cause, and it is too soon to know if it was an arson, Mieth said.

No further details were immediately available.

The fire follows a number of arsons in Southeastern Massachusetts. State fire officials have said the fires are related and that a serial arsonist could be behind the blazes.

Coan declined to comment Friday on whether a fire set in a Scituate home on Thursday is connected to the series of arsons. No one was injured in the Central Avenue fire, which was knocked down in 20 minutes.

Those with information can call the state arson hotline at 1-800-682-9229. The hotline provides rewards up to $5,000 for information that helps solve arson cases.