A Washington residence is a total loss following a fire that occurred Thursday night.

Washington Fire Chief Brendan DeLong states that at 5:49 p.m. the Washington County Communications Center received a report of a house fire at 508 North Avenue D across from the Washington YMCA. All occupants safely evacuated the home. Upon arrival the house was fully engulfed and the fire was extinguished. The communications center then received another call at 3:57 a.m. that the fire had rekindled, and the Washington Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire using exterior tactics. The house was demolished due to safety reasons and to be able to get the fire extinguished safely.

Cause of the fire was determined to be accidental and was started by a space heater that was plugged in and operating. The wind on Thursday night was significant and spread the fire to the rest of the house. No injuries were reported. Ainsworth and Kalona fire departments, Washington Police and EMS, Washington County Ambulance Service, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Emergency Management, and Alliant Energy assisted at the scene.