BUFFALO TWP— A house was destroyed early this morning by an electrical fire.

The house at 106 Grimm Road burned to a shell about 2 a.m. and left a family homeless, but no one was hurt.

Homeowner Shaun Austin had just gotten home from work and was checking the weather on his computer when he heard a noise in the furnace room, firefighters said. He opened the door to the room and saw flames jumping at him. He left the home, taking his dog with him, and called 911.

Karen Mallonee, who lives across the road, said she woke and saw flames coming from the rear of the one-story, wooden house. She was about to call for help when the homeowner came out of his house. He had already called 911, she said.

Austin lives there with two sons, but neither was home at the time the fire started.

Ron Hawk, assistant fire chief for Buffalo Township Fire Department, said flames were showing outside the home when he arrived. Firefighters from Buffalo Township, Sarver, Saxonburg and Winfield Township responded.

Firefighters had to battle the cold temperatures as well as the flames. The low this morning was zero at the Butler County Airport in Penn Township. Hawk said water was freezing on the road and in the trucks.

The fire was under control about 4:30 a.m., Hawk said, and firefighters were at the scene until 5:35 a.m.

Hawk estimated the damage at $150,000. He ruled the fire accidental and said it was started by electrical causes.

The homeowner is reportedly staying with family.