Crews responded to the fire at the single-family home at 336 E. St. Mary Street at approximately 2:37 p.m. After spotting two vehicles in the driveway, they entered the fully-involved structure to perform a search.
Less than two minutes after the firefighters entered the structure, the roof began to collapse, sending burning debris down on them, Chief Richard Badon told the newspaper. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries.
He said that no firefighters were sent to the roof initially because the priority was locating the occupants.
The house's tin roof, attic and second floor were engulfed and flames were coming out of the gables at each end of the home, according to the report.
"This was significant fire," he said. "With a tin roof, it was more difficult to fight than a normal composite roof. No one could have stood on it to fight the blaze."
No one was in the structure or seriously hurt.
He said the blaze was under control within 40 minutes.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
