A house was heavily damaged by fire Thursday morning in Hempfield.

Crews were called to the home on the 1000 block of Middletown Road about 9:50 a.m., county emergency officials said.

The owner, Paul Scott Smith, said he was working in the backyard when he saw heavy smoke coming from the rear of his wood-frame house. He said he could not open the back door because it was so hot.

With his cellphone inside the house, Smith had to flag down a passing motorist to call 911.

Hempfield fire Chief Anthony Kovacic said the house was in flames when units arrived on the scene.

The fire is being investigated by a state fire marshal. Smith indicated he had lit a fire in his wood-burning stove and had lighter fluid stored nearby.

Smith said he was not hurt but lost his cat. Smith said he has lived at the family home in Middletown since he was born in 1950.

Firefighters from Hempfield, Youngwood, South Greensburg, Rillton, North Irwin, North Huntingdon and Dry Ridge assisted in fighting the blaze. Some crews remained on the scene for most of the afternoon.

Kovacic said Smith has relatives in the area who could provide him a place to stay.

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