Mandan detectives are investigating a suspicious fire that ruined a mobile home on Wednesday.

Sgt. Jay Gruebele said the mobile home in the Wildwood court was totaled by smoke damage at around 12:54 p.m. Wednesday.

A neighbor noticed smoke coming from the back door and porch area of the home and called 911, Gruebele said. Flames filled the master bedroom and the deck, he said.

He said the owner of the home was not there at the time of the fire, but three animals inside were rescued and were unharmed.

Gruebele said it appears someone had entered the home and started the fire, because the back door was forced open. The cause of fire appears suspicious, too, he said.

"There was no other ignition source, such as electrical," he said.

Detectives are interviewing people in connection with the fire.

- Jenny Michael