SUSPICIOUS FIRE IN NORTH JOSHUA TREE WEDNESDAY NIGHT

The county fire department is investigating a suspicious fire in north Joshua Tree last night. County Fire Battalion Chief Scott Tuttle said firefighters from Joshua Tree, Yucca Mesa, and Yucca Valley were called to the blaze in the 62600 block of Sun Mesa Road at 9:56 p.m. He said the smoke and flames could be seen from a mile away. The vacant garage was fully involved when firefighters arrived, and the building was already starting to collapse in on itself. Tuttle said the fire was under control in about 10 minutes, and firefighters were on the scene about an hour. There was no home on the property, only a cement slab for a house. The cause of the fire is under investigation.