Firefighters battle a blaze this morning at a house off Prospect Road in Forward Township. Officials say the fire appears to have started in a bucket of ashes on the porch before spreading to a wood pile. No one was injured as firefighters contained the blaze to the porch and half of the second floor.

FORWARD TWP — Firefighters this morning prevented a porch blaze from spreading through a two-story home off Prospect Road.

Capt. Brian Greenawalt of the Evans City Volunteer Fire Department said the fire appears to have started in a bucket of ashes and spread to a wood pile.

“It traveled up into the roof,” Greenawalt said.

No one was injured at the Dennis Schmidt residence, which is part of Overlook Farm at 529 Prospect Road.

Greenawalt said the fire damage was contained to the porch and half of the second floor.

He said water and smoke damage extended farther.

Greenawalt said the fire was knocked down within 30 minutes after crews responded to the 7:08 a.m. 911 call.

He said the design of the solid hardwood porch ceiling made it difficult to poke a hole into it to reach the flames.

About 25 firefighters responded to the scene.

Assisting Evans City were the Prospect, Harmony, Meridian, Connoquenessing and Callery volunteer fire departments.

Greenawalt said the fire was knocked down within 30 minutes after crews responded to the 7:08 a.m. 911 call.He said the design of the solid hardwood porch ceiling made it difficult to poke a hole into it to reach the flames.About 25 firefighters responded to the scene.Assisting Evans City were the Prospect, Harmony, Meridian, Connoquenessing and Callery volunteer fire departments.