An early morning fire Wednesday in Lake Hauto gutted a bi-level, wood frame house and killed two pets.

Fire departments from Carbon and Schuylkill Counties responded to reports of a working structure fire on Crescent Lane at 8:49 a.m.

Temperatures were in the 20s at the time.

According to the Hometown Fire Company, the fire was through the roof in three places by the time crews arrived on scene. Flames could be seen shooting from window openings, and before long, all firefighters battling the blaze from inside were given orders to evacuate the building.

It is believed that the fire started in the far right corner of the basement, the fire company posted on its Facebook page. The high winds spread the fire throughout the house quickly, and crews battled the fire for hours.

Nobody was home at the time of the blaze but two pet ferrets in the basement did not survive.

The family reportedly has fire insurance and an insurance agent was on scene Thursday to assess damage.

The cause is currently under investigation by a state police fire marshal.

Officials at the scene Thursday said the blaze may have been electrical in nature.