SELMA — John Armistead knew the fire at 1639 Green St. in Selma on Tuesday night was pretty big.

“He said it was big because he could see the orange and the smoke for blocks,” said his wife, Marquita Armstead.

The Armisteads were driving north of downtown Selma when they became aware of the fire. John, an off-duty firefighter, drove to the blaze.

By the time they arrived at the unoccupied house, firefighters had the blaze under control.

A few embers had drifted into the tops of nearby trees, but they were doused.

“I heard that it had burned once before,” John Armstead said.

Selma Fire Capt. Joe C. Phillips said arson had not been ruled out “because it had caught fire an earlier time.”