Fire District No. 3 officials are investigating arson after a fire destroyed a home under construction and brush fires burned an acre of town land in the past week.

The latest incident leveled a single-story home under construction at 789 Faunce Corner Road in the early morning hours of November 15.

“Unfortunately, by the time we got there, the house was already burnt down,” said Deputy Chief Ted Borges, who was on the scene at both fires.

It is unclear whether the property has an owner. The home was being constructed by Bob Long, Inc. There was no gas or electricity at the property yet, Borges said.

The fire spread quickly through the open walls due to the lack of sheet rock, said Borges, who noted that the street sees little traffic around 2 a.m., when the fire was called in.

Department officials suspect foul play due to a witness report that Borges could not immediately elaborate upon. The state Fire Marshal brought in a K9 unit to search for accelerants, such as gas, propane, or lighter fluid. Nothing was found.

Borges estimated the damage at $200,000, although it would be higher if the house had been completed. He said the foundation will need to be redone.

Surrounding homes were not damaged and no one was injured in the incident. District No. 3 received help putting out the blaze from District No. 2 and Freetown.

It is unclear if that fire was related to three brush fires that occurred at approximately 2 p.m. on Sunday. Those fires were spread out on an acre of town land near the the water supply on Old Westport Road.

“It wasn’t an act of nature,” Borges said of the incident. “Obviously, someone started it, but we can’t prove that.”

A total of 16 firefighters and two officers from both District No. 3 and No. 2 responded to the brush fires. District No. 2 also supplied additional brush fire equipment. The fires were extinguished in approximately 90 minutes.

Borges said Dartmouth Police had been notified that dirt bikers had been in the area, but officials weren’t able to confirm whether the riders had anything to do with the fires.

Both incidents remain under investigation.