A fire investigator is trying to piece together what caused an East Vancouver home to catch fire – twice.

Flames were already tearing through the second floor of the home in the 1500-block of East 11th Avenue when crews arrived just before midnight, and there were concerns the fire could spread to neighbouring homes.

It's believed the fire originated in the kitchen area, although it's not clear if the fire is suspicious.

No one was injured, but it's unclear if a person claiming to live in the mostly empty home was supposed to be there. The man ran from the scene after refusing treatment from paramedics for possible burns to his his hands.

"We've been told there was one person claiming they lived in the house but this person has fled the scene," Vancouver Fire and Rescue Chief Peter Bridge told CTV Morning Live.

Crews were able to knock down the blaze, but it flared up in a big way several hours later.

Neighbours had to call 911 again around 5 a.m. when they heard crackling then spotted flames shooting from the windows of the home.

Firefighters were called back to the scene and managed to knock those flames down within a few minutes.

A former tenant says the previous landlord of the home died recently, and the home had fallen into disrepair.

"It's pretty sad," said James Wootton. "I've seen the front windows smashed for some violent reason."

City workers boarded up broken windows and the front door.

With a report from CTV Morning Live’s Sheila Scott