A Reedsport family is homeless after a fire destroyed their home Thursday afternoon.

At about 1:40 p.m., homeowner Jeff Lyons called dispatchers to report his house was on fire. Reedsport, Winchester Bay and Gardiner firefighters went to 775 Mill Ave. to fight the blaze.

Reedsport Fire Chief Tom Anderson said Lyons apparently was asleep when someone called him and he noticed his home was burning.

“It was a good thing he got the phone call. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have known,” Anderson said.

He said the home was fully involved in flames by the time firefighters arrived. Lyons was the only family member home at the time of the fire, but the family’s dog, several cats and two birds perished in the blaze. One cat was saved from the fire.

They were able to control the blaze in 30 minutes. American Red Cross volunteers were on scene Thursday making arrangements for the family. Red Cross District Director Jim Caplan said he was unaware of how many people lived in the home. Jeff and his wife, Betty Lyons, were in the process of buying the house.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it appeared the fire started in the back of the house, Anderson said.

Reedsport brought four fire engines and 21 volunteers. Winchester Bay and Gardiner brought one engine each.