State and local fire officials, already investigating the cause of a house fire on Dover Road in Epsom three months ago, believe arson played a role after firefighters were called to the same house on Tuesday afternoon.

State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey, Epsom Fire Chief Stewart Yeaton and Epsom Police Chief Brian Michael announced Wednesday they are seeking the public’s help to discover who might be responsible for the two fires at 1459 Dover Road.

“The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office,” the release said, “is investigating the circumstances surrounding these intentionally set fires.”

The first fire occurred on Jan. 23. The house was empty during both fires and no one was hurt either time.

“On both of the listed dates and times, Epsom Fire and Police Departments responded to the above address and found heavy fire in a large, vacant, residential building,” the release said. “The fire department extinguished the fires with assistance from many mutual aid fire departments. “

Tuesday’s fire occurred at approximately 3:51 p.m. The home had been for sale for years before the first fire, Chichester Fire Chief Yeaton said Wednesday.

State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey was unavailable for comment Wednesday, but Yeaton said officials strongly suspect that an arsonist set the fires.

“There was no reason for it to start,” Yeaton said. “I concur with the state fire marshal, that these fires were intentionally set. You first have to rule things out. There was no electricity, so it wasn’t an electrical fire. There was no lightning and this was not from a fireplace or woodstove. We talked  to people who called it in, asking what part (of the house) did they see the smoke was coming from.”

Yeaton said the Fire Marshal’s office used an arson dog to sniff out traces of an accelerant, which would help explain how the fire started.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office at (603) 223-4289, option 2; or by email at fmo@dos.nh.gov. Anonymous tips can be made to the arson tipline at (800) 400-3526.

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