Rapper 50 Cent's 1.2 million home burns in 'suspicious' fire

The fire that destroyed the $2.4million house where the hip-hop star's ex-girlfriend and son lived has been branded 'suspicious' by officials.

The New York home - owned by the award-winning musician - was gutted after an inferno engulfed the property early on Friday morning.

Firemen were unable to put out the raging flames at rapper 50 Cent's house on Friday night

Suspicious: the remains of the £700,000 burned out house that rapper 50 Cent's ex-girlfriend and son lived

Grammy award winning 50 Cent at the MTV studio in New York said that he was glad no one was hurt when the fire set ablaze to his house

Six people who were inside in Long Island, were rushed to hospital following the blaze, including the woman and the child.

Fire officials said they were probing it as suspicious.

The Fire Department Chief Larry Feld said: 'I would say there is a strong - a strong, strong - possibility that it is suspicious.'

Asked why he believed the fire was suspicious, Feld told newspaper Newsday: 'The rapid movement of the fire, the volume of the fire. It was engulfed. The home was totally gutted.'

A neighbour said: 'The fire was huge, I mean huge, I watched the whole fire from our pool.'

The six bedrooms, five bathroomed home purchased by the rapper in January 2007 has been at the centre of a lawsuit between 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, and ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins, the mother of his son.

The 32-year-old In Da Club star tried last month to evict Tompkins and their 10-year-old son, Marquise, from the home unless she paid him $4,500 a month in rent.

Tompkins then filed a lawsuit against Jackson in Manhattan's State Supreme Court, claiming "breach of contract" and alleging the rapper had promised to put all or part of the house in her name.

Lawyer Paul Katsandonis who is representing Tompkins, said he had not heard about the fire and could not confirm if Tompkins and her son still lived in the home or had moved.

A fire that has destroyed a house where rapper 50 Cent's ex-girlfriend and son live has been branded 'suspicious' by officials

50 Cent who is currently on location filming a new movie said he was relieved no-one had been seriously hurt.

A statement released to TMZ.com read: 'Curtis Jackson expressed deep concern over this fire at his property.

The charred remains of 50 Cent's house

'He is extremely thankful that everyone including his son, Marquise, escaped the burning house safely.

'He is confident that authorities will be conducting a thorough investigation of the incident and is eager to review their findings.'