(10/03/06) WEST HEMPSTEAD - A house fire in West Hempstead killed a man Tuesday and fire officials are calling the blaze suspicious.

Police say they found a badly charred male body in the basement of the Glenwood Road home. Although it was too burned to positively identify, they believe the man is the 42-year-old owner of the house, David Bhola. The fire department says someone seemingly punctured the gasoline tank of Bhola?s van and they believe the gasoline may have helped cause or spread the fire. Neighbors say they heard a loud explosion and watched as the house became engulfed in flames. Firefighters contained the fire to the one house before extinguishing it, but could not reach the man in time.

Bhola?s wife and three children were not at home at the time of the fire. Neighbors say the Bholas are good people, but mentioned some recent bad blood with a contractor.