Emergency crews responded to a massive structure fire in Altoona.

It happened on Walnut Avenue and 4th Street before 5 p.m. Saturday. Callers told us they could see thick black smoke from miles away.

The Altoona Fire Department’s assistant fire chief told us the house is being emergency demolished because the structure was ready to collapse.

“With the amount of water that we had used and the amount of damage that was done to the structure we felt that the structure was unsafe to allow to stand,” Ed Barstow, Altoona Fire Department’s assistant chief, said. “At any given moment the back part could collapse and injure, possibly kill someone.”

Two adults and three children were home at the time. No injuries were reported.

The Red Cross is assisting the family.