MUNCY – A family of six safely escaped their burning home last Monday night when flames were spotted coming from the back of the bi-level house on Van Horn Boulevard, just off Lime Bluff Road, in Muncy Township.

Randy Miller, his girlfriend and four children were being assisted by the local chapter of the American Red Cross after flames caused at least $50,000 damage to the house they rented at 313 Van Horn Blvd., Muncy Area Fire Chief Scott Delany said.

The blaze broke out about 7:10 p.m., sending volunteer firefighters from Muncy Area, Hughesville, Picture Rocks and Pennsdale to the scene. It took about 20 minutes to bring to the fire under control.

“I could see the flames before I got here,” Delany said.

One of the family members discovered the fire and alerted the others, he said. All six escaped through the front door.

“They called it in, but we also got several other reports of the fire at the same time,” Delany said.

Although the fire was quickly extinguished, Delaney and Cpl. Nicholas A. Loffredo, a state police fire marshal, remained at the scene for an extended period of time, trying to determine the cause of the fire, which remains under investigation.

The home is owned by Eric Parrish, who lives on the same street, and has insurance on the property. However, the displaced family has no renter’s insurance.