BUTLER TWP — Carelessly disposed wood ashes apparently ignited a fire that badly damaged a home at 150 Delwood Road on Saturday afternoon.

Authorities said 78-year-old Lawrence Birckbichler who lives there managed to get out safely. No injuries were reported.

The home, owned by Birckbichler’s daughter, Jackie Birckbichler, and its contents sustained an estimated $80,000 to $90,000 in damage.

Investigators suspect Jackie Birckbichler’s niece, Dezeray Angerette, accidentally started the fire. She had been staying there for three months.

“We believe she emptied ashes from a wood burner onto the back porch,” Butler Township fire marshal Larry Christy said today.

She may have inappropriately placed the ashes in an unknown container on or around the enclosed porch before leaving the house, investigators said.

Lawrence Birckbichler was alone about 3:45 p.m. when he noticed the fire, said Chief Keven Kelly of the Mercer Road Volunteer Fire Department.

“He opened the door, looked outside and saw (the fire) blazing away,” Kelly said.

Birckbichler got out at once and went to a neighbor’s house for help.

Flames were coming from the east side of the house in the area of the back porch that leads to the living room when the first fire crews arrived, Kelly said,

Firefighters used compressed air foam and water from a hydrant in front of the house to gain control of the blaze in 10 to 15 minutes.

The fire damage was confined to the living room and back porch, which later collapsed. The rest of the house had heavy smoke damage.

Christy estimated damage to the house at between $60,000 to $70,000 with an additional $20,000 for its contents. The property, he said, is insured.

Assisting the Mercer Road department were firefighters from Butler Township Fire District Station 3, South Butler and Butler.