DANVILLE, Va. — The owner of a Stokes Street home escaped injury after fire destroyed the residence Monday evening.

Firefighters were dispatched to 758 Stokes Street about 5:15 p.m. Flames were shooting from the roof of the building when the first units arrived and heavy fire was visible from the back of the house.

20 firefighters fought the blaze from outside the home because of the intense heat and flames inside the structure. They were later able to move inside the structure.

Crews were able to contain the fire in about two hours but were on scene for six hours. Four engines and a ladder truck were needed to douse the flames.

The homeowner’s son says his 81-year-old father was asleep in a chair when he heard a loud noise and ran from the burning building with just the clothes on his back. He lives alone at the house and there were no injuries.

The fire marshal determined that the cause was unattended cooking.