ELKHART — Three fire departments responded to a house fire this morning, Dec. 12, in Osolo Township.

Osolo Township Fire Department responded to 26174 C.R. 4 around 7:35 a.m., where flames and smoke were coming out of the west side of the house, said Osolo Fire Chief Jerry Miller. Cleveland Township and Bristol Fire Departments were called to provide mutual aid. The fire was fully extinguished about an hour later.

C.R. 4 was blocked between C.R. 9 and S.R. 19 for about an hour while firefighters worked.

The house sustained heavy fire damage to the first floor, as well as smoke damage to the first and second floors. Miller said the first floor was the origin of the fire, but they were still in the process of investigating the cause of the fire Wednesday morning.

David and Lynn Ebbole, the owners of the house, had left the house to go to work in the morning. No one was in home when the fire started.

“It must have started right after I left for work,” David Ebbole said.

Lynn Ebbole said a passerby saw flames coming out of the house, called 911 and knocked on a neighbor’s door The neighbor called the neighbors.

“We’re thankful no one was hurt,” she said. “And for the person who stopped to call for help.”