For much of the morning, arson investigators with the Guam Fire Department were seen taking photos and making notes, trying to determine the cause of a fire that ripped through a Tamuning property early this morning.

"Shortly after 2 a.m., our units received a call from our dispatch center reporting a structure fire on Tun Jose Toves Street in Tamuning, behind National Office Supply," GFD Spokesperson Kevin Reilly told KUAM News. "At that time our units rolled out and confirmed that there were two containers and one concrete structure that was being used as a warehouse to hold retail goods."

Elle Guerrero, a neighbor, had told KUAM that she was awakened by a loud pop and looked outside to see the house and containers in flames. When she saw firefighters attempting to break down the front door, she informed them that no one resides in the house. It was then when they asked her to contact the property owner. Reilly said because of the contents and the combustibles, containing the fire took awhile.

"Our units took about three and a half hours to get the fire under control," Reilly said. "After that was done, overhaul was done to prevent the rekindling of the fire."

GFD requested the assistance of Guam Homeland Security to obtain a backhoe to sort through the debris so firefighters could get under the deep-seeded fire. Reilly says arson investigators from the prevention bureau continue to investigate the scene.

"As with all fires, finding the cause is extremely difficult especially due to the fully engulfed structures that were involved," Reilly said.

Tamuning Mayor Louise Rivera had some of her staff on location all this morning to help in any way possible.

"I'll be heading back out there to find out for sure if there's any emergency needs and what we need to do to assist the family," she said.

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