Authorities say a fire that damaged a house on Standish Street late Wednesday appears to have been intentionally set.

A Salisbury Police officer drove by the home in the 1300 block of Standish Street around 10:25 p.m. Wednesday and saw smoke coming from the home. The officer stopped, called the fire department and checked to make sure no one was home.

Although the initial call said someone might be inside, firefighters found no one. The renter of the property, Wayne Woodruff, had been on vacation and was not at home, said Police Capt. Shelia Lingle.

Crews put out the fire within five minutes of arriving, Salisbury Fire Department Battalion Chief David Morris said Wednesday night.

The fire started in the front room of the home. Morris estimated that 30 percent of the structure sustained some sort of fire, water or smoke damage.

Initial crews said they found several points of origin for the fire, which meant it would be treated as suspicious, he said, even though fiery debris could cause additional points of origin for the blaze.

The fire appears to be arson, according to fire officials, Lingle said Thursday.

Salisbury, Granite Quarry and Spencer fire departments responded, in addition to Rowan Rescue, the Salisbury Police Department and the city fire marshal’s office.