EMLENTON — A basement fire spread and destroyed a two-story house Tuesday morning at 622 Center St.

The fire started at 6:02 a.m., and the smell of smoke awakened the house’s lone occupant at the time, Wade Schaffer. Once he discovered the fire, he called 911 and left the house.

Emlenton Volunteer Fire District Assistant Chief Barry Louise said the fire spread too quickly to be stopped. By the time the firefighters went inside, the flames had spread to not only the first floor, but the second as well.

“We made a couple of interior attacks on it, pulled out and went into defensive mode and protected the adjacent homes on either side,” Louise said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the house was still smoldering. No other houses were damaged.

Louise said the cause of the fire is unknown, though he noted there was a wood burner in the basement. He said he did not suspect foul play.

Volunteer fire departments from Emlenton, Parker (Armstrong County), Seneca (Venango County), Knox and St. Petersburg (Clarion County) were on the scene.

The American Red Cross will provide shelter and food for Schaffer.