A fast-moving fire destroyed a two-story house in Jefferson Township this morning, leaving a family homeless less than two weeks before Christmas.

Five people including two children were inside the rental home on the 300 block of Victory Road but everyone got out safely after the fire was discovered shortly before 5:30 a.m. The family did not have renter's insurance.

“We lost everything,” said Chris Stivason. He lived at the home with his girlfriend and his brother. His two children, ages 12 and 13, were at the home visiting.

A cause is undetermined, said Lt. Andy Freehling of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company. The state police fire marshal has been called but the fire was not believed to be suspicious, Freehling said.

Stivason said his alarm had just awakened him when he realized there was a fire in the house. Everyone else was sleeping.

“I yelled for the kids,” Stivason said. “I yelled for everybody to get up and get out.”

All of the bedrooms were in the second floor but everyone made it down the stairs and out the front door.

At least eight departments responded and battled the blaze, which was under control by 7 a.m. Crews accessed a fire hydrant at the nearby industrial park in neighboring Clinton Township for water to fight the fire.

The American Red Cross has been called and is assisting the family with emergency needs.