Fire at vacant Lealman house called arson

LEALMAN — An early morning fire in an unoccupied Lealman home Tuesday was the work of an arsonist, fire district investigators said.

The blaze at 4479 41st N was reported by a 911 caller at 4:34 a.m., said Capt. Larry Thompson of the Lealman Fire District. Once firefighters got there, they found several rooms on fire. The flames were put out in about 20 minutes, Thompson said.

Inside, investigators found evidence that three separate fuel-based fires were set, said Thompson. Samples of the flammable liquid were sent for forensic evaluation. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is now investigating.

No one was living in the house, which appeared to have been last occupied as a rental about a month ago, Thompson said. Property records list the owners of the home as Ronald and Gloria Eyer of Yankeetown. They could not be reached for comment.