St. Thomas fire officials are reminding the public about extension cord safety after a house fire.

Flames ripped through the house on Sauve Avenue in St. Thomas on Monday night shortly after 8 p.m.

The fire spread quickly to the second floor.

Thankfully, the family of three escaped thanks to working smoke alarms.

A St. Thomas fire inspector tells CTV News an extension cord overloaded while it was connected to an electric woodstove.

Officials are reminding the public that extension cords should only be connected temporarily to appliances.

Plugging items directly into the wall, or a power bar is a safer alternative.

Damage is pegged at $150,000.