ARSON SUSPECTED AT COIN LAUNDRY.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LANCASTER - A Lancaster self-serve laundry was destroyed by a suspicious fire early Tuesday, causing $650,000 in damage, officials said.

The laundry, located at 45549 Beech Ave., was closed when the fire started about 4 a.m.

``The incident is an arson investigation and is being handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department,'' said Los Angeles County fire Capt. John Santero.

Firefighters from Station 129 were the first on scene, followed by Station 33 in downtown Lancaster. Other stations were on scene within minutes of the 911 call and fought the blaze for more than 90 minutes before finally getting the flames knocked down.

When the firefighters arrived, flames were already coming through the roof of the building, officials said.

Firefighters were called back about five hours later when someone called 911 to report seeing smoke again coming from the debris inside the building.

``Someone saw a little smoke, but we can't get in there and tear up the scene because arson investigators have to be able to conduct their investigation,'' Santero said.

Investigators estimated the damage at about $500,000 to the structure and about $150,000 damage to the building's contents.

Arson investigators could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lancaster sheriff's station at [phone].

Greg Botonis, [phone]

gregory.botonis(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Firefighters check the knocked-down roof of a self-serve laundry gutted by a suspicious fire early Tuesday in Lancaster.

(2 -- color) Some $650,000 damage was caused by the fire at this laundry, a fire that officials suspect was arson.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer