UPDATED: Family Escapes From House Fire

UPDATED at 11:55 a.m. with quotes from Milford Fire Chief.

***

Milford Fire Department responded to a house fire just about 6 a.m. Sunday on Oak Tree Drive.

According to Milford Police, the family escaped from the fire at 12 Oak Tree Drive. Milford Police tweeted the "family of five narrowly escapes fire with their lives, nothing else."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation but the origin appeared to be the front porch, said Milford Fire Chief John Touhey.

Four people were inside when the fire was discovered, shortly before 6 a.m.: two parents and a 17-year-old girl, and an 11-year-old boy, he said.

The father discovered the fire, when he awoke to an unusual sound, said the fire chief.

He went downstairs to investigate, and a blow of fire and heavy smoke came in at him from the front porch, said Touhey.

The family escaped through the rear of the house, said Touhey.

"They stayed low to stay under the smoke," he added.

The fire went to two alarms. Hopedale, Bellingham and Franklin all assisted.

No injuries were reported to the firefighters or the family.

One dog did get out of the structure, but the family's cat is missing, Touhey said.

The Milford Building Inspector has already deemed the structure unsafe. It will be boarded up later Sunday.  The house, a single family home, is a total loss.

American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts is helping the family.

This is the third major fire for Milford Fire Department in the last month.