HENDERSON, N.C. — A Henderson house caught fire early Wednesday and authorities suspect arson.

Firefighters responded to a call on Montgomery Street where a vacant two-story house was in flames. It took two hours to contain the fire.

"It was a nice, old house. I just hate to see it gone," owner Carol Franklin said.

Authorities say they are not sure how the fire started but they said it is suspicious. Henderson has been plagued recently by a series of arson cases involving apartments for seniors, abandoned structures and a church.

Authorities said a suspect in a car fire was jailed briefly earlier in October and later released. Authorities say he was later seen near the Montgomery Street fire.

"The person walked by the fire as we were wrapping up. [We] can't say he's a suspect in this fire," said Henderson Fire Chief Danny Wilkinson.

Henderson investigators believe the suspect strikes in the early-morning hours, but so far, the suspect is only targeting empty buildings.