Mansfield Firefighters are taking a defensive-type approach when battling arson-suspected home fires.

The same held true around 1 p.m. Tuesday when firefighters were called to the scene of a burning vacant duplex at 53 and 55 South Foster Street.

Assistant Mansfield Fire Chief Jim Bishop says there was extensive damage throughout the structure.

An investigation into the cause is underway but Bishop suspects it's arson-related.

Should it be, it would be the 31st arson-related fire in Mansfield since June.