The fire Wednesday afternoon at a business east of Hayward is being investigated as a possible arson, according to the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were dispatched at 4:23 p.m. Wednesday to Mason Auto Sales, 86974 Freeborn County Road 46, for a report of a fire in the office, the release states.

Smoke was reportedly coming from the roof, but no flames were visible from the outside. Three sets of keys were found in the parking lot about 50 feet from the office door.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the fire was called in by Nickson Marcello, 39, who stated he and his girlfriend were there looking at a vehicle, and after knocking on the office door with no answer, he reportedly opened the door and saw the office was filled with smoke.

The owner of the business, Gerald Mason, was there when the Sheriff’s Office arrived and reported there was no one in the building.

A 2008 green Mercury Mountaineer with a Minnesota license plate 230WLR, a 2002 blue Dodge Ram with an unknown license plate and a small black Sentry safe containing approximately 80 vehicle titles were reported missing.

There were no signs of forced entry to the front doors, according to the Sheriff’s Office, but a window was broken on the lower level in the back of the building.

There are no suspects in the case.

Hayward, Hollandale and Myrtle fire departments, the Minnesota State Patrol, Gold Cross Ambulance and the State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted on scene.