(4:36 p.m.) – The St. Joseph Fire Department said it was unable to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a vacant house on the South Side of town Wednesday.

Firefighters responded shortly before 10 a.m. to the 700 block of Blake St. to battle a fire inside a home that crews on scene told the St. Joseph Post appeared unstable and dangerous.

Mike Neylon, Chief of Training for the St. Joseph Fire Dept. said the investigation has been concluded and the cause of the fire is undetermined.  He said the house was vacant but full.  No utilities were hooked up at the time of the fire.

No injuries were reported.

The structure was deemed a total loss at around $30,000.

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(Update 11:19 a.m. ) – The St. Joseph Fire Department is clearing the scene of a fire on the South Side of St. Joseph.

Crews responded shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday to the 700 block of Blake St.  Mike Neylon with SJFD said the cause of the fire is still under investigation but that crews were clearing the scene around 11:25 a.m.

Initial reports from fire crews on scene indicated the structure was unstable and dangerous so firefighters were taking a cautious approach.

Desari Coffman said she is the homeowner and that no one was inside at the time of the fire.  She said power was not connected at the time.

“We didn’t have nothin,” Coffman said. “I’m just glad nobody and nothing was in there.”

Neylon said fire inspectors are still looking into what may have started the fire.

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(10:11 a.m. ) – Crews with the St. Joseph Fire Department are responding to a house fire on the South Side of St. Joseph.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, St. Joseph Post’s Rob Horning was on scene in the area of 700 Blake St. He is reporting seeing a lot of smoke coming out of the back of the house and some flames.

Four fire trucks and an ambulance were also seen on location.

Horning said he was able to speak with Battalion Chief Russell Moore who said the building is very unstable and dangerous so firefighters are taking a cautious approach.

“As far as they know no one is inside but they’re taking it very cautiously,” Horning reported. “They’re going through very carefully to make sure that everything is okay.”

Moore said that they believed there to be the possibility of needles on the floor so crews were being careful.