A Somerset Township family was left homeless after a fire late Sunday morning destroyed their home on Scott Drive.

Ellsworth fire Chief Dave Lambert said Jeffrey and Doris Day and their children had left the previous day to visit relatives in Bedford County.

The fire had been burning a while before it was reported about 11:15 a.m.

"We got an update about a minute and a half later; it was already fully involved," Lambert said, adding the home is in a rather secluded area of the township. The closest neighbor was not home when the fire was reported.

About 40 firefighters assisted. Crews from Ellsworth, Valley Inn and Fallowfield Township fought the fire as crews from Bentleyville, Marianna and Lone Pine provided a tanker shuttle. The South Strabane Township Rapid Intervention Team also assisted. No injuries were reported.

Thomas Kalchthaler, who owned the two-story frame home, had tractors and other items stored in the garage of the home.

Trooper Shaun Jones said the cause of the fire, which started in the basement, is still under investigation. He estimated damage at $150,000.

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