BUTLER TWP — An electric wall-mounted heating unit in a basement hallway accidentally started a fire Thursday morning that forced a family to flee their home on the 200 block of Woodlawn Road, authorities said.

No one was injured in the fire around 7:15 a.m. at the Broeren family home but damage was estimated at $165,000, according to Chris Switala, chief of the Butler and Butler Township fire departments.

Volunteer firefighters rescued several pets but one cat and one kitten were unaccounted for following the call.

There were three people in the ranch home in the township's Meridian section when the smell of smoke awakened a woman sleeping on the first floor, Switala said. She got out a door.

Two others were sleeping in a basement bedroom and they found themselves momentarily trapped by the fire in the hallway. So they improvised.

“They got out through a basement window,” Switala said, “because their means of escape was cut off.”

The Butler Township Volunteer Fire District, assisted by the Butler VA Fire Department, was able to get inside and quickly knocked down the fire.

Butler Township police shut down Woodlawn Road between Whitestown Road and Highland Avenue during fire.

While crews were inside, a firefighter emerged from the house cradling a medium-sized dog. About five minutes later, another firefighter carried a cat from the home. Both animals appeared to be in good health.

Switala said two dogs and multiple cats were saved. He did not know the fate of the missing cat and kitten, noting they could have escaped after the fire.

The home, which was insured, sustained fire damage in the basement hallway, and heat and smoke damage throughout the basement and on the first floor, Switala said.

He noted that multiple windows also cracked from the heat.

Authorities did not immediately know where the family is staying. The American Red Cross was contacted, but was not needed.