JEFFERSON TWP — A man escaped a fire that ravaged his Hannahstown Road house early this morning.

Chief Chris Ballina of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company said owner John McKernan escaped out a first-floor window at 228 Hannahstown Road.

McKernan was not injured.

Ballina said McKernan was sleeping in his bedroom when he awoke feeling uncomfortable.

“He started to get warm,” Ballina said.

He said McKernan rose out of bed to turn the air conditioner to a cooler setting.

“He could smell smoke,” Ballina said. “He went out to the hallway and saw flames.”

Ballina said McKernan realized he could not get to the door due to the oppressive heat inside the building.

McKernan called 911 after making it out of the house.

Ballina said McKernan's wife was staying at a hotel for a children's pool party and McKernan was only home to meet contractors scheduled to do work today.

McKernan declined to comment.

Ballina said the cause of the fire was electrical.

“It was faulty wiring in the basement,” he said.

Ballina said the house, which was appraised at $170,000, is a total loss.

“They'll have to demolish it,” he said.

McKernan is insured.

Although the blaze was concentrated in the basement, firefighters were forced to tear down walls upstairs to reach all the flames.

Ballina said the house was made of oak, which both helped and hurt efforts to douse the blaze.

Although oak does not burn as easily as pine, he said that sturdiness also ensured the walls would need to be torn down due to flames being trapped inside.

Roughly 30 firefighters responded to the 2:31 a.m. 911 call.

The Herman, Winfield Township and Buffalo Township volunteer fire departments assisted at the scene. The Middlesex Township Volunteer Fire Company was on standby for Saxonburg's coverage area.

Crews cleared the scene at 6:40 a.m.