The fire that destroyed a Lattingtown home Wednesday night is being called suspicious, fire officials say.

Firefighters say by the time they got to the Ryfield Road home, it was all but gone. No one was home at the time. Fire officials say it was not the first time they've been called to the address when no one was there.

Locust Valley Fire Department Assistant Chief Brian Nolan says a few months ago he was called to the house because of an unattended fire in the fireplace.

Officials for the village of Lattingtown say they've had problems with the property for a long time. They say they had to issue a stop-work order about a year ago and that the property has liens against it. The owner has also been cited for a litany of violations, they say.

Neighbors say they are not surprised the fire is being considered suspicious.

The owner of the house, Vincent Donaruma, was unable to be reached for comment.