Fire Department Says House Fire is Suspicious

An early morning blaze causes moderate damage to a Rockford home, but has fire investigators wondering if this fire is related to a suspicious blaze last week.

The fire was confined to the living room couch and a small portion of the walls of a home on Rockford's near west side. Fire investigators believe that a Molotov cocktail was thrown through the front window and then exploded in the house.

Investigators say there was a strong smell of gas in the room and they found broken glass near the fire. A similar device was used to start a fire last week on North Rockton.

Investigators suspect the fires are related.

No one was injured in the Curve Street fire. Damage is estimated at $3,000. Police are searching for a motive.