A fire that caused extensive damages to an unoccupied house on Rama Road Wednesday night is under investigations, officials say.
Ramara Fire and Emergency Services and Rama Fire Rescue responded to a basement fire at 6240 Rama Rd. on Wednesday evening just before 11 p.m.
Tony Stong, the director of fire and rescue services and fire chief for the Township of Ramara, says nobody was living in the house at the time and the owners are out of the country.
At least 32 firefighters reported to the scene where the basement was engulfed in flames, Stong explained.
"There was heavy black smoke," Stong said. "The fire was in its growth stage, but it was rapidly growing."
Stong says crews did a "great job" knocking the blaze down quickly and keeping it to its area of origin. There were no reported injuries to firefighters or civilians.
Despite several attempts to get a hold of the home’s owners, Stong said he has not been able to make contact with them.
"I think the police have made contact," he said. "They were pursuing it."
Stong estimates damages to the home are in the range of $30,000 to $50,000.
"It depends on what insurance finds, but I believe it will be able to be fixed," he said.
At this time, fire crews are not deeming the fire suspicious, but "the investigation is ongoing," Stong says.
"The cause is undetermined at this time," he said, noting that fire and police are working together to determine what started the blaze.
Stong says the home was equipped with working smoke alarms. He reminds people with secondary properties to have a local key holder for emergencies.
"You should have somebody local who is responsible for the property," he said. "That would be helpful to your emergency services."
