An explosive event that occurred shortly after July 4, 2010, in the student neighborhood certainly had people wondering if someone had gone overboard with their fireworks.

Arson investigators were called to inspect a suspicious fire that scorched the empty 34 Evanston Ave. home on campus July 7, 2010.

Firefighters believe the fire was started on the front porch and quickly spread to the first and second floors of the house, according to Dayton's district fire chief, Vincent Wiley. The fire is considered suspicious because there were no electrical issues. Firefighters claim a rug had been rolled up, covered in gasoline and ignited. The blaze caused some siding to melt on the houses at 30 and 36 Evanston Ave, according to Wiley.

The estimated damage cost to 34 Evanston Ave. is believed to be up to approximately $12,000. The estimated damage cost to the interior contents is believed to be over $1,000.

The fire was extinguished in 15 minutes, and afterward debris littered the porch, while the front of the house had turned black by the flames.

Upon hearing his future UD residence was caught on fire, senior Matt Sullivan ran out of his summer residence on Lowes Street to see the house's remnants for himself.

"My summer roommate woke me up at about 9 a.m. and told me that my house burned down," Sullivan said. "Naturally I didn't believe him, so he showed me the news article online. I still didn't believe him, so I walked down the street and had a look myself."

Shocked, Sullivan and his future 34 Evanston Ave. roommates were upset since they thought their house wouldn't be livable anymore, but he said he was happy that no one had anything in the house that could've been ruined by the fire.

Upon hearing about the fire, senior Sara Bissmeyer, a resident at 30 Evanston Ave. and next-door neighbor of 34 Evanson Ave., said the university's e-mail about the fire surprised her and scared her when she realized her future house was next door.

"I hadn't ever experienced a fire on campus, and I was shocked when I heard about the 34 Evanston fire," Bissmeyer said. "It wasn't until I got to campus that the impact of the fire really set in for me and became a reality. The house is really nice now; they got all new countertops and furniture. But seriously, I was really surprised."