Firefighters battle heavy smoke and fire at home blaze

The fire at 5:17 p.m. at 1016 Lyons is under investigation, a Fire Department spokesman said.

Neighbors told firefighters that the home had been vacant.

Firefighters arrived within 2 minutes of the call, but the fire had extended to all floors and the roof, the spokesman said.

Crews fought the fire from a defensive mode because of heavy fire conditions and lack of stability to the structure.

The BPU shut off overhead power lines nearby, and the fire investigator came to the scene. The estimated damage to the structure and contents was $20,000, the spokesman said.

After the fire was under control, a primary search was conducted and confirmed that the structure was vacant, the spokesman said.