SALISBURY — Deputies are continuing to investigate after a kitchen fire on Monday was ruled as potential arson.

Deputies were initially called to a home in the 100 block of Cedar Brook Drive by firefighters who said that the fire in the home was suspicious, according to Captain Mark McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.

The resident of the home said that the house was empty from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., when the family returned home. The family found the door to the house standing upon and all the stove turned on with the heat all the way up and a plastic bowl burning on it, filling the house with smoke, said McDaniel.

Firefighters reportedly confirmed with the deputies that when they arrived on scene the house was filled with smoke but there were no flames in the building. Deputies also reportedly observed that there was no sign of forced entry on the doorway.

Deputies are investigating the incident as a potential arson case, according to McDaniel.