A city couple, their son and two dogs are staying with other family after a fire Saturday morning damaged their rented house.

The fire started in the basement of 411 Virginia Ave. at around 9 a.m. and sent smoke throughout the two-story structure.

Susan Pint was watching television in a second floor room when she smelled smoke. She said she went out into the hallway and saw smoke, so she got her son, Tanner, from his room and, with their two dogs, they left the house.

Susan Pint's husband, Bill Pint, was at work at the time and rushed home after learning of the fire.

The fire started in a faulty basement furnace, said Butler Fire Chief Nick Ban. Firefighters used water and foam to extinguish the blaze, which destroyed the furnace, Ban said.

“Right now the residents have been displaced probably for a week or so until (the repair workers) get everything cleaned up, and they'll be staying with family members,” Ban said.