CLINTON TWP — A fallen tree limb this morning brought down an electrical line and started a fire that destroyed a more than 150-year-old house on Sun Mine Road, authorities said.

The farmhouse had been unoccupied for some time and no one was injured, according to firefighters.

The one-story house on the old Norris farm was already up in flames about 5:25 a.m. when a neighbor contacted 911.

There was nothing fire crews could do but “surround and drown” the wood structure encompassed by numerous trees, said Chief Chris Ballina of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company.

Investigators believe the fire was accidental and caused when gusting winds knocked down the limb of one of the trees onto a power line.

Electricity was the only utility connected to the house owned by Michael Norris, who lives across the street.

Norris’ grandparents used to live in the house when they operated the farm, which included livestock, crops and apple trees, according to friends and neighbors. The house was built in 1858.

A damage estimate was not available this morning.

Assisting the Saxonburg VFC were firefighters from Middlesex and Buffalo township and Sarver in Butler County and West Deer No. 1 in Allegheny County.