At 12:31, Chesapeake units were dispatched to a reported fire in an abandoned house in the northern end of the city.
The first arriving unit, Engine 1, had little difficulty extinguishing the fire.
Standard procedure requires a thorough search of all fire buildings. While conducting the search, firefighters discovered an 11' tall inflatable icon of "Spongebob Squarepants" in a rear room.
Many of these advertising balloons were stolen from a national fast food franchise in the southeast in recent weeks.
The fire was intentionally set and an investigation continues.
"Bob" is in the custody of the Chesapeake Police Dept. (He is not considered culpable in the fire) awaiting identification of his owner.
