Shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, Burns and Hines fire departments responded to a report of a fire at the McKnight residence at 410 W. Bennett in Hines.

Upon arrival, the fire departments found the house fully engulfed in flames.

Hines Fire Chief Bob Spence said several neighbors in the area reported hearing a loud explosion and then a smaller one before the flames erupted.

After determining the house was unsafe to enter, the fire departments allowed the fire to burn. Firefighters concentrated on protecting nearby structures, including a trailer that was next to the house.

“There was nothing you could do to save the house,” Spence said. “But we did save the trailer, and sprayed down the utility poles to keep them from burning.”

No one was home at the time of the blaze.

The following day, a representative from the State Fire Marshal’s office went to the site and visited with neighbors. He determined that the cause of the blaze was most likely electrical in nature.

Two fuel tanks were also damaged in the fire, and they could have been the cause of the explosions that were heard earlier.