A home in downtown Lenoir City was destroyed by fire Friday.

The call came in at about 7:20 a.m. for a house fire at 507 C St., and Lenoir City Fire Department was on the scene within three minutes, Firefighter Justin Hendrix said.

"When we arrived we saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the structure,"� Hendrix said. "Everybody was out on the street when we arrived."�

The fire started in the attic. "At one point, we had started an interior attack, but the space was very close to collapse," Hendrix said. "We pulled everybody out and fought from outside. It took about an hour to get it under control."

Firefighters were able to contain the fire so that it did not spread to nearby residences, two of which were located only a few feet away.

A total of 16 personnel from Lenoir City Fire Stations One and Two responded to the fire with three engines. Greenback Fire Department personnel came and manned the station while Lenoir City firefighters were occupied.

Five people lived in the rental house: a man, his wife and their two sons, as well as the brother of the head of household.

"We were able to save a few personal belongings, but the structure was a total loss,"� Hendrix said. Several framed family photographs, two children's piggy banks and various other items had been placed on the sidewalk. A silver tinsel Christmas tree stood on the front porch.

According to Hendrix, the blaze was the first Lenoir City house fire of the winter season.

"It's the first one we had since the cold snap started,"� he said. "But that had nothing to do with it. We determined it was some type of electrical issue that caused the fire."

Hendrix said the family would be given emergency assistance by the American Red Cross. "We contacted the Family Resource Center with the school and we will try to get them help from other agencies," he said. "The landlord, the man who owns the house, said he would help them some."

David Cruz, who lived in the home with his brother and two nephews, said he was thankful nobody was hurt.