GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Fire broke out early Friday at the home of an Iraqi immigrant who is jailed on charges of running down and killing his daughter because she had become too "westernized."

The fire was contained to the garage of the home, on 72nd Avenue just north of Glendale. Nine people, including three children, escaped injury.

Investigators began working to pinpoint the cause of the fire at the home of Faleh Almaleki.

Almaleki is charged with running down his 20-year-old daughter, Noor, and another woman in a Peoria parking lot Oct. 20. Noor Almaleki died last Monday after being in a coma since she was injured.

"Obviously, the family here is high profile because of some recent events," said Daniel Valenzuela of the Glendale Fire Department. "Right now, to call it suspicious? I don't know."

Valenzuela said the fire might have been ignited by a barbecue-type smoker.

"They can tell some of the fire was near one of the walls of the garage and that's where the smoker was, so that may be where the fire occurred," he said.

A court hearing for Almaleki was postponed Thursday.

Maricopa County Superior Court said the sheriff's office did not transport Faleh Almaleki to his video arraignment. The deputy said it was because the defendant is on suicide watch at the county jail.

Authorities said Thursday that Almaleki is still charged with two counts of aggravated assault, but that those charges will be changed since his daughter died.

Faleh Almaleki fled after the attack.

Police said he drove to Nogales, Sonora, then traveled to Mexico City and flew to London. Police in Britain denied him entry and contacted U.S. authorities. Almaleki then was flown back to Atlanta, where he was arrested Oct. 29.

He was returned to Arizona last weekend.

Police said the Almaleki family moved to Glendale from Iraq during the mid 90s.

(Copyright 2009 Bonneville International Corporation. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.)