City of Gaffney police officers converse with Gaffney firefighters at the scene of a Friday fire on Joyce Street. A neighbor reported smoke billowing out of the vacant home, which had no utility service, at about 5 p.m. Firefighters turned the investigation over to Gaffney police. (Ledger photo / TIM GULLA) Even before they had put away their hoses, City of Gaffney firefighters were calling for police to come to the scene of a Friday afternoon fire on Joyce Street.

A neighbor spotted smoke coming from a vacant home in the 300 block at about 5 p.m. Friday and Fire Department Capt. Wayne Brown, the first to arrive at the scene, reported heavy smoke emerging from the residence.

“Firefighters made entry through a side door and found the house charred with smoke and a small fire in the bedroom,” said Fire Training and Safety Officer Scott Coleman. “A search was made to make sure nobody was inside and they were able to extinguish it quickly.”

Coleman confirmed the vacant home had no electrical service.

“Due to the circumstance, as the house is supposed to be vacant, city police were called to investigate further,” he said.

An incident report at the police department wasn’t immediately available over the weekend.

Asked about damage, Coleman said the fire extended up a wall and got into the ceiling, where it started to burn rafters in the home’s attic.

“They had to pull down some areas of the ceiling to gain access and extinguish (the flames),” Coleman said.

All three city fire stations responded to the fire call, including Headquarters, Overbrook and East Gaffney.

Police investigators could not be reached for immediate comment about the cause of the fire and the status of their probe.