This Lancer home burned Friday night, despite being vacant and having no electricity. The fifth fire in the immediate area over the past few months, officials are now considering the possibility of arson.

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PRESTONSBURG — Fire officials have not ruled out arson, after a late-night blaze erupted in Lancer last Friday.

According to officials, Prestonsburg firefighters and police officers were dispatched to a burning home on South Lake Drive last Friday evening. Sgt. Selena Thomas with the fire department said it took fire personnel about three hours to put the fire out and close the scene.

According to Thomas, the home re-kindled early Saturday morning. Thomas said the the report on the incident has not been completed, but arson has not been ruled out.

“No one was living there, and there was no electricity,” Thomas said.

Calvin Risner, who lives near the burned house, said he was watching TV Friday night and wasn’t even aware there was a fire until he stepped outside to learn the reason for all the emergency lights.

“I just thought it was a traffic accident,” Risner said.

Risner said he didn’t see anyone coming or going from the home before it caught fire.

This was not the first fire to break out in Lancer in recent months. According to Thomas, Prestonsburg Fire Department has responded to five structure fires in a four-block radius of the Lancer area in just the last year, one of which was the home of Prestonsburg Fire Chief Bobby Carpenter.

Thomas would not comment when asked if arson had played a role in any of the other fires, or if any of the fires were under investigation.

Fire Chief Bobby Carpenter and Assistant Chief Chuck Davis were both out of town and unavailable for comment.

Lonzo Bowling, owner of the property could not be reached for comment.