A family of five narrowly escaped their burning home on the 200 block of East Fifth Avenue in the early hours of Wednesday morning, an Altoona Fire Department spokesman said.

“The family was alerted by their smoke alarms, thank goodness,” Fire Chief Tim Hileman said. “All five escaped the flames, but the family dog hasn’t been located yet.”

A fire call came in about 3:30 a.m., but the caller was a neighbor, and initially, firefighters were concerned the family might still be trapped inside.

“The first crews were on scene in just about three minutes,” Hileman said, explaining Fire Engine

No. 313 was the first to arrive.

Later, Hileman learned the family fled the burning home so quickly, they didn’t have time to grab a phone, and because of the early hour, none of their neighbors were available to help, he said.

The family drove across town to a relative’s home, where they called 911, but the fire department was already on scene.

“Because of the delayed call, the porch of the house was engulfed by the time we arrived,” Hileman said. “We weren’t aware of the occupants’ location, so we approached defensively at first with the goal of extracting them.”

Searing flames were spreading from the ground floor to the second-story ceiling as rescue crews closed in.

“Because of the house’s construction materials, the fire was burning extremely hot,” Hileman said.

Neighbors called the firefighters’ attention to the absence of the

family’s vehicle, and Hileman said he pulled the rescue crews back as the situation became increasingly dangerous.

“Unfortunately the house was a loss,” Hileman said. “But the family was safe, and that’s the outcome we care about most.”

By the time firefighters extinguished the blaze, about 75 percent of the home was severely damaged by fire and the entire home was heavily damaged by smoke, he said.

Seventeen firefighters battled the blaze with the aid of four fire engines and a fire truck.

While the fire is still under investigation, Hileman said the cause was likely accidental, and the estimated damages were about $75,000.

No injuries were reported.

Mirror Staff Writer Ike

Fredregill is at 814-946-7458.