FREEPORT — Firefighters late Wednesday night prevented a blaze at a vacant house from spreading to two adjacent homes along Franklin Street.

Lt. Jeff Lowers of the Freeport Volunteer Fire Department said the fire appears to have started in the back of the vacant house at 542 Franklin St., where the kitchen likely was located.

Lowers said the utilities still hooked up to the two-story house, so Allegheny Power was called to shut off the power.

Lowers said the one-way sloped street made it difficult for emergency crews to battle the blaze.

“It’s an extreme challenge,” he said. “It’s hard to get a good attack.”

The bitter cold weather was another hindrance. Lowers said firefighters manning hoses were relieved more frequently than usual.

Lowers said the fire was under control about 90 minutes after crews responded to the 11:01 p.m. 911 call.

He said the house was a total loss.

More than 50 firefighters responded. Freeport was assisted by three Butler County departments: Saxonburg, Buffalo Township and Sarver.

Vandegrift, South Buffalo Township, Allegheny Township and Harrison Hills also assisted.

The fire was the second this week in the borough.

At 2 a.m. Monday, a fire destroyed an unoccupied rental property on Market Street and an occupied house next door.

A third house also was damaged.