A fire broke out inside a home in Brownstown Borough, Cambria County Thursday morning. West Hills Regional Fire Chief Don Blasko was the first on the scene: he lives just a few houses away.

“I was out blowing snow and I happened to glance up and I seen the smoke pouring up out of the back of the house,” Chief Blasko said.

Investigators say the fire likely started in the basement of the house on the 300 block of Crystal Street around 8:30 a.m. The flames spread quickly to the first and second floors.

“It literally burned the floor away,” said Chief Blasko.

No one was inside at the time of the fire. At least one of the home owners’ five dogs didn’t survive.

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. The chief says an electrical heater could be to blame.

“They did have an electric space heater in the basement in or around where the fire looks like it started,” Chief Blasko said.

The inside of the home was severely damaged by fire and smoke. However, crews were able to save some Christmas gifts.

“The crews actually did help get some of their Christmas gifts out and salvage some of the things underneath their Christmas tree,” said Chief Blasko.