TELLICO PLAINS (WATE) – A fire is under investigation after a topiary was damaged early Wednesday morning.

The Tellico Plains Police Department says the fire was around 2:45 a.m. at 1350 Cherohala Skyway. Police along with Tellico Plains Fire Department came to the scene and extinguished the fire. Police say the owner, Joe Kyte, believes arson is to blame for the incident. Investigators believe the fire spread after the suspect set a t-shirt on fire and transferred the flames to the topiary.

WATE 6 On Your Side reported issues concerning the sculpture in March. Many residents on Cherohala Skyway believe the shrub was obscene. The topiary depicts a nude woman bending over.

Marie Morris told WATE, “I have grandkids and a great grandkid and I try to protect them from this type of pornography.”

The police department has received many complaints on social media and phone calls about the plant.

“It’s on my private property, and I’m a little taken aback by it,” said Kyte. Kyte, an artist, claims the sculpture was worth $5,000. In March, Kyte told WATE that some people take pictures with the sculpture because they think it is funny.

“If it wouldn’t have rained last night, it wouldn’t have been burned out,” said Kyte. “The fire could have spread to my house, because everything was extremely dry.”Related:Art or obscenity? Tellico Plains community at odds over topiary