ALTOONA, Iowa — An Altoona family’s home was destroyed in a fire on Friday morning.

The Altoona Fire Department responded to a report of a house fire in the 100 block of 21st Street SW at around 10:16 a.m. The fire department said neighbors reported hearing a loud explosion near the home.

When firefighters arrived at the scene they found flames and smoke coming from a rear window. The fire department said the fire was quickly extinguished and was contained to one room and the attic space above it. However, the entirety of the home sustained significant heat and smoke damage, the fire department said.

A family of three — two adults and one child — and their pet cat resided at the home. The adults and child weren’t home when the fire broke out. Firefighters managed to locate the cat and said it appears to be doing well.

According to the fire department, the explosion that neighbors heard was likely caused by a phenomenon called a backdraft, which is the abrupt burning of superheated gases in a fire that occurs when oxygen is introduced into an oxygen-deprived environment. This can occur when a fire is in an enclosed space and a window or door is opened or broken.

The fire department said no injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Altoona Fire Department was assisted by the Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, and Ankeny fire departments and the Altoona Police Department.

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