FORWARD TWP — The state police fire marshal’s office is investigating a blaze late Wednesday night that badly damaged a more than century-old farmhouse on Watters Station Road.

A couple living there managed to get out after discovering the fire about 11:30 p.m. However, a pet dog was killed and one cat was missing, fire officials said.

The blaze started in a second-story bedroom that apparently was being used for storage space, said Chief Mark Adomaitis of the Evans City Volunteer Fire Department.

But a cause was not immediately known. Adomaitis said the fire was not considered suspicious.

Lou Schilling was getting ready for bed when he smelled smoked. He opened the door to the bedroom down the hall and found the fire, officials said.

He ran and got a bucket of water that he threw on the fire. “But it was growing too fast,” Adomaitis said.

Moments later, Schilling and his wife got out and called 911.

Schilling’s mother, Marian Schilling, owns the two-story house with an attic.

About 35 firefighters from six departments converged onto the property up a 400-foot driveway and battled the blaze for several hours.

An attack crew was able to get inside and upstairs to pour water on the flames in at least one bedroom, bathroom and hallway.

A tanker shuttle made sure there was enough water on hand.

Officials said the house’s style of balloon construction, common in older homes, made for a difficult fire fight.

Balloon-frame construction allows fire between the walls to travel quickly through the open spaces upward.