CHERRY TWP — State police and fire investigators believe a house on rural Coaltown Road was broken into early this morning before it was set on fire.

But the possible suspect's getaway apparently failed when a car, which was still running and loaded with items taken from the home, got stuck in the snow, authorities said.

Troopers reportedly traced the car's owner to Chicora. It was not immediately known if police have any suspects.

A state police fire marshal arrived to begin looking into the suspicious blaze.

A motorist about 2:40 a.m. saw smoke and fire coming from the house about 5 miles west of Moniteau High School and called 911.

The passer-by also reported seeing a white car parked next to the garage with its engine running, its lights on and its trunk open.

"When the first call came in it wasn't known if anyone was in the house," said Chief Reid Campbell of the West Sunbury Volunteer Fire Department. "But when we got there, it was beyond making safe entry."

Flames were shooting out every window and opening of the one-and-a-half story stone house, sided with aluminum.

The house had been unoccupied for years, according to neighbors.

Some two dozen firefighters used tankers and water from the nearby Slippery Rock Creek for the exterior attack. The fire was contained in about 30 minutes.

Firefighters noticed the suspicious white car, a Pontiac, with its open trunk.

"The front end was damaged," said Chief Ron Steele of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Department. "The damage looked like it was still fresh."

The trunk was stuffed with electrical motors.

"The were so many in there that it probably weighed down the car, which is maybe why it couldn't get out of there," Campbell said.

But there were other clues, including a broken garage door, that suggested this was no accidental fire.

"The door to the garage that's attached to the basement was forced open," Campbell said.