An investigation's been launched in southern California after a fire at a mosque.

No-one was hurt and there was only smoke damage to the building in Coachella city.

But the cause wasn't immediately clear and efforts are underway to find out if it was started deliberately.

Some neighbours say they're upset by what's happened.

"But I felt kind of like emotional, because usually when they sing, you can hear like everybody singing and praying. And even though they're not from my religion, because I'm Catholic, I still respect their religion," said Zoila Felix, who lives near the mosque. 

The fire happened nine days after shooting spree in San Bernadino 75 miles from Coachella by a Muslim couple, raising fears of an anti-Islamic backlash.