Investigators this morning said a Monday fire that severely burned the home of the Vonore police chief was intentionally set.

"It was arson," Madisonville Police Department Detective Sgt. Jim Shaw said today.

Flames were discovered at 9:41 p.m. Monday at the Cook Street residence in Madisonville of Police Chief John Hines. Hines was not home at the time, but his wife was, Shaw said.

Hines' wife smelled smoke in the home and was able to escape without injury.

No firefighters were injured dousing the flames, but the home sustained extensive fire and smoke damage, Shaw said. The residence is uninhabitable now, he said.

Shaw said the fire was set outside the home. There was no indication an accelerant was used.

While investigators are sure the blaze was the result of arson, they have no indication now that the home was targeted because of Hines' position as police chief in the town about eight miles away. Madisonville and Vonore are in Monroe County.

The State Fire Marshal's Office is working with the Madisonville Police Department in the probe, Shaw said.

Hines has been unavailable for comment since the fire.

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