An elderly woman, reportedly in her late 80s and living alone, was rescued after her house caught fire Saturday in Summit Hill.

The blaze happened in the 400 block of West Ludlow Street at about 6:30 p.m. Officials said the cause is still under investigation but that it likely was weather related — possibly a power surge or a lightning strike.

Fortunately, the woman’s daughter was visiting at the time.

The fire erupted in the area of the electrical box in a basement garage and spread quickly.

Tom Turner, who lives a few doors away, said, “I heard a crash from the storm and looked down the street. Smoke was pouring from the house.”

Turner ran to the scene where he, the daughter of the elderly woman, a Summit Hill police officer, and another man who asked to remain anonymous carried the woman from the house and down the five cement steps in front of the dwelling.

The police officer, Amie Barclay, said she was on the scene within minutes of the call since the police station is just a few blocks away. She said “thick, white smoke was billowing” from the single, two-story home. She said her first concern was making sure the occupant got out safely.

Summit Hill Fire Chief Shawn Hoben said most of the fire was confined to the basement although flames migrated to a small area of the first floor. The house also sustained water damage to the first floor and basement and smoke damage throughout.

“The smoke was thick when we arrived,” Hoben said. It was spewing from both the front and back of the structure.

He said he couldn’t immediately determine if the fire was caused by a power surge or lightning, “but it went right to the electrical panel,” he said.

Turner, who is a member of the Summit Hill Fire Department, said firefighters arrived very quickly on the scene.

Another close-by resident, Liz Mongi, agreed. “The fire company was here within minutes. It was amazing. They were right on it.”

She witnessed the four individuals carry the woman from the house and agreed it was fortunate her daughter happened to be there at the time.

“We have an excellent fire company,” Mongi said, adding that the incident she witnessed confirms her commitment to contributing each year to the fire company fund drive.

An estimated 50 firefighters from several communities responded.

Besides the Summit Hill Fire Department, other responders were from Lansford, Coaldale, Jim Thorpe and the Tamaqua Rapid Intervention Team. The Nesquehoning Fire Company was dispatched to the Summit Hill Fire Station for standby status.

The Lehighton Ambulance Service also was at the scene.

Fire police were in charge of traffic control.