JEFFERSON TWP — A wood-burning stove was blamed for a fire Sunday night that badly damaged a small house on Rennick Road, authorities said.

A young couple was able to escape unharmed after discovering the blaze shortly after 10 p.m.

“It looks like the fire came out from around the flue pipe and heated the rafters to where there was a fire,” said Chief Chris Ballina of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company.

Damage was estimated at between $80,000 and $100,000. Carol Geibel owns the house, which was insured. The home has one main floor with a basement and attic.

It was not known if the tenants, whose names were not available this morning, had renter’s insurance.

Ballina said the woman who lives there was up and about when she smelled smoke. Moments later, she noticed smoke coming from the heater duct in one of the rooms.

She woke her boyfriend, who was sleeping. He found the fire in the basement where the wood burner is located, authorities said.

“The fire started in the wood burner, went up the flue, through the wall and into the attic,” Ballina said.

Herman volunteer firefighters were first there and an attack crew quickly knocked down the blaze, authorities said. The fire was contained to the basement, attic and the first-floor wall between the bedroom and a hallway

The rest of the house, however, sustained smoke damage.

While some of the tenants’ contents were salvaged, Ballina said, the house may have to be torn down due to the extensive damage.

The couple is believed to be living with relatives.

Assisting the Saxonburg and Herman departments were firefighters from Buffalo and Penn townships.

The last crews were back at their stations after early today.