A firefighter pulls siding from a house Monday on Hill Street in Emlenton to access a fire, which was burning between the roof and an older roof underneath.

EMLENTON, Venango County — A fire destroyed an unoccupied house Monday on Hill Street.

Smoke billowed from the roof of 205 Hill St. and was visible throughout the borough.

Crews responded about 12:30 p.m. to the fire at the house owned by Chuck and Stephanie McBride. They moved out three days ago, having relocated to Florida.

Barry Louise, assistant fire chief of the Emlenton Fire Department, said the house is a total loss and he does not know whether or not it is insured. No surrounding houses were damaged.

He said he does not know what caused the fire, but "fire was throughout the house.

"The house was built with a roof over a roof and that's what caused problems for the guys," Louise said this morning.

Fire can get between the structures and become hard for firefighters to access. Similar construction was involved with the Saxonburg Friedman's Supermarket fire in May 2004 and a fatal trailer fire in January 2007 in Franklin Township.

"When there's no one in the place and the fire's like that, I hate to send people in and get someone hurt," Louise said.

Venango County Fire Marshall Dana Beckwith is investigating the fire, but was not available this morning.

The Columbia Gas Co. and the Pennsylvania Electric Co. also sent crews to shut off their services at the house.Next-door neighbor Debbie Evans was at home when the fire began, but she didn't think there was a problem until she looked out her window."They just moved out Friday and I thought someone was over there maybe burning garbage," Evans said. "Then I looked out and saw smoke flying out the roof."Evans said the McBrides lived there for more than 10 years. She said they had taken almost everything with them."I think they had some things there that they left behind for them to pick through later," Evans said.Evans has lived in the neighborhood with her family for three years. She said the McBrides had just installed new windows, siding and a new deck on the house before they left, but it is not for sale.Firefighters from Parker, St. Petersburg, Clintonville and Eau Claire volunteer fire departments assisted in battling the fire. Emlenton Ambulance also responded.Eagle staff writer Kelly Garrett contributed to this report.

Despite their best efforts, flames erupt through the roof of the house in Venango County. The house, owned by a couple who moved to Florida three days ago, is a total loss.