GUSTINE – An early morning fire on Sunday destroyed the remaining portions of a commercial building on the city’s southern edge which had been heavily damaged in a fire earlier this year.

Authorities said Monday the fire is suspicious in nature and that an accelerant appears to have been used, but  the cause remains under investigation.

Firefighters were called to the building, located adjacent to Diamond Food Center at Highway 33 and Meredith, at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, according to Fire Chief Pat Borrelli.

They arrived to find the southern half of the building, which had survived the late June fire, fully involved in flames.

An individual at the scene told firefighters that somebody was inside the building, Borrelli said, but no fire victims were found in a search of the property after the fire had been extinguished.

Firefighters had little chance to save what was left of the building, which at one time housed a karate studio and a restaurant.

“For a building that was already burned, it was pretty well involved by the time we got to it,” Borrelli commented. “It probably took us at least an hour to bring it under control, and we did not leave the scene until 9:30 or 10 o’clock that morning. I don’t think we released any equipment at all for at least three to four hours.”

About 18 firefighters from Gustine, Newman, Santa Nella, Stevinson, Hilmar and Los Banos responded to the call.

Borrelli said the property owner was in the process of getting bids to rebuild the damaged north half of the building when the second fire leveled all but the southernmost portion of the structure.

“They were going to be able to save the restaurant portion of it before this,” Borrelli commented.

Damage in the June fire was estimated at $250,000. Damage from last weekend’s blaze was estimated at $300,000.

There was no electric or natural gas service to the building.

Police said Monday that authorities were interviewing potential witnesses as part of an ongoing investigation.

Anybody with information about the fire is asked to contact Gustine police at 854-3737.

Callers may remain anonymous.