A homeowner on Fingal Line near St. Thomas roused his family from sleep early Sunday morning to escape a burning house.
Fire crews were called to the residence on Fingal, just west of John Wise Line, around 3:30 a.m.
Dave Berger told CTV News he heard a smoke detector and quickly reacted to get three other family members out safely.
"I woke up...and seen flames rolling over my diningroom area," Berger said. "Soon as I seen that I ran back upstairs and notified everybody and we all got out, including the (Newfoundland) dog, except for the family cat.
Berger’s son Clayton and his girlfriend had to exit out of a second-storey window and jump off a low roof, which was about five feet high.
Neighbour Christine Campbell brought clothes to the family. "I brought socks over, old shoes, just trying to keep them warm because they got out with just basically their pyjamas."
The house is from the 1850s era and was destroyed in the blaze.
While the fire started in the area of a woodstove, the cause has not yet been determined.
