A column of thick, black smoke could be seen for kilometres around Wodonga on Tuesday night as a derelict house raged with flames.
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Wodonga Fire Brigade senior station officer Brett Myers said the CFA received about 30 triple zero calls for the Daintree Way fire at about 9pm.
“As soon as the firefighters responded from the fire station, they could see a clear column of black smoke,” he said.
A half-acre grassfire also burned near the vacant house.
Detective Senior Constable Justin Foots said two teenage boys were suspects in causing the fire after they were seen fleeing the scene on BMX bikes.
The witness was one of the triple zero callers.
“They’ve been in a nearby paddock, observed the house was on fire and at the same time they’ve seen two young males leaving the vicinity of the fire and head back towards Hastings Street in Wodonga West,” Detective Foots said.
“This house has been disused for some time and we have reason to believe the young persons may have been spending time in the house, possibly causing damage.
“We would just be appealing for any people who know of young people who have been been spending time in that house.
“If they could contact police, they could assist us with our inquiries.”
Mr Myers said the house was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.
The fire was controlled after 30 minutes, but the house was completely destroyed.
Fire crews needed extra water for such a large blaze, so they set up a hose relay to a nearby reticulated water main.
Mr Myers said the 300-metre line of hoses was the best way to guarantee water.
“With a fire that size, we would run out of water really quickly,” he said.
“There was no threat (from the fire) to any people.
“It was isolated and away from other houses.”
Eight CFA units were originally called to the fire, but Wodonga, Wodonga West, Rutherglen and Barnawartha responded and many were on scene until almost midnight.
A fire investigator inspected the house on Wednesday morning to determine the cause, but did not identify what started the blaze.
Mr Myers said firefighters also returned to check the rubble with thermal imaging camera for hot spots.
The homestead was not in use and believed to be owned by property developers.
“The address may have been demolished anyway," Detective Foots said.
Anyone with information can contact Wodonga Police Station on (02) 6049 2600.