Officials are calling a fire that destroyed a tire shop in eastern Dawson County suspicious.

Dawson County Sheriff’s Lt. Ray Goodie said investigators are working with the fire marshal’s office to determine what caused the blaze.

“We’re investigating the fire as a possible arson,” he said, adding an accelerant had been found on the scene.

A motorist reported the fire about 4:30 a.m. Thursday while passing the shop, which is at Blue Ridge Overlook and Ga. 53.

Emergency personnel found heavy smoke when they arrived at the blaze, which took nearly three hours to put out.

No one was injured in the incident and no nearby businesses were damaged. Ga. 53 was shut down for nearly three hours.

Dawson County Fire Chief Lanier Swafford said the steel and concrete building is a total loss.

According to county tax records, the structure was built in 2007 as a 1,860-square-foot car wash. It’s currently owned by North Energy Investments of Braselton.

The county’s business license lists Fernando Garcia Mobile Tire Service as the tenant.