CLIFTON man Joe Derkos had the shock of his life when, at 2am yesterday, police knocked on his door.

He was being informed that the house he owned on Clarke St had been gutted by fire, and authorities were treating it as suspicious.

"The biggest shock is someone knocking on your door at 2am and it's the police," Mr Derkos said.

"The first thing you think is someone is dead.

"But they said to me it is a house fire and at first its relief that no one is dead.

"Second is shock that your house is gone."

Firefighters and police were called to the house about 11.15pm on Saturday with reports of a blazing house fire.

Mr Derkos said no one had lived in the house for years, and electricity was not connected to the property.

He said kids from around the neighbourhood used to climb through the house, but he had since locked up the property to keep them out.

He is unsure what he will do with the property after investigations close.

"It all depends on the council and what it tells me," he said.

Mr Derkos said he had purchased the property for his son, who didn't live there.

Clifton police Senior Constable Greg Burton said the fire was being treated as suspicious, and urged anyone with information to contact the station on 4697 3120.