Firefighters work to contain a dwelling fire Saturday afternoon on Lear Road, Antis Township. About 40 firefighters from 11 different companies responded to the blaze. No one was injured although one cat is still missing, an official said.

A fire late Saturday morning destroyed a house on Lear Road in Antis Township, behind Riggles Gap Bible Church.

No one was hurt, although a cat is missing, according to Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Company Deputy Chief Travis Cobler.

A state police fire marshal is investigating the blaze, which is believed to be accidental, Cobler said.

A couple lived in the 2.5-story frame house, and the man was home at the time, according to Cobler.

The couple had two cats, and although one escaped the house, the man was looking for the other in the area of the attached garage when firefighters arrived.

At that time, the fire was primarily in the basement, but had already climbed up through the first floor and into the attic, Cobler said.

That cat was never located, he said.

Firefighters first attacked the fire from the back of the house. When a second truck arrived, additional firefighters took a line into the first floor, Cobler said. But the fire was too far advanced for them to save the house, according to Cobler.

A local excavator demolished the remains of the house Saturday evening, Cobler said.

The Red Cross was on scene. The agency typically helps ensure that fire victims have a place to stay.

Cobler was unsure what living arrangements the victims may have made, or whether they have insurance.

About 40 firefighters from Pinecroft, Excelsior in Bellwood; Neptune and Hookies from Tyrone; Newburg, Lakemont, United and Greenwood from Logan Township; plus Bald Eagle and Allegheny Township, were on scene during a period of five hours, Cobler said.

Initially there was heavy snow, which transitioned to freezing rain.

The church opened its recreation center as a warming and rehabilitation center for firefighters, Cobler said.

Firefighters obtained water from a hydrant on Grandview Road, and took that water using tank trucks to a dump tank placed at the intersection of Riggles Gap and Lear roads.

At firefighters’ request, drivers from PennDOT and Antis Township salted the tanker route to offset the freezing of water that dripped off the trucks.