MARS - A faulty refrigerator was blamed for a fire Sunday afternoon that damaged a 2½-story home on Garfield Avenue.

One of the occupants of the rental home was hospitalized for minor injuries after apparently trying to put out the accidental blaze, fire officials said.

The White family - a father, mother and their four children - was in the house about 3:20 p.m. when someone noticed the fire.

They were able to get outside safely; however, the father went back inside briefly before being overcome by smoke, said Chief Jeremy Nickle of the Mars Volunteer Fire Department.

The man's first name was not available this morning.

"He was having a little trouble breathing and had chest pains, possibly due to smoke inhalation," Nickl said.

Mars Ambulance took the man to UPMC Passavant Cranberry. His condition was not available this morning.

Firefighters saw thick black smoke coming from the second floor of the 324 Garfield Ave. home, and used compressed air foam inside the building.

The initial fire was knocked down quickly but firefighters had to remain for several hours to put out hot spot after the fire spread inside the walls.

Nickle noted the balloon-type construction of the older model home contained no fire stops.

"We did a preliminary investigation and the cause appears to be a refrigerator malfunctioned in the kitchen and caught the wall on fire," he said. "The fire traveled up the wall to the second floor and attic."

Most of the fire damage was confined to two rooms on the second floor, the attic and kitchen. Much of the family's personal belongings sustained smoke damage. A damage estimate was not immediately available.

The Butler chapter of the American Red Cross was called to assist the family, who apparently did not have renter's insurance. It was not known where the family was staying.

The owner of the home, whose identify was not known this morning, has insurance, fire officials said.

Mars firefighters returned to their station about 7 p.m.