A family escaped a fire at a Rolling Hills home last Wednesday, but the home was badly damaged.

Chief Marv Koorn with North Whidbey Fire and Rescue said the fire started on the deck outside of a small, two-bedroom house on Diane Avenue.

The flames burned the corner of the house and entered the living room, causing smoke damage throughout the rest of the home. Fortunately, the family made it out OK.

“The resident was laying down to rest when she smelled smoke,” Koorn said. “She and her two kids got out fine.”

Koorn said firefighters responded at about 6:20 p.m. and were able to quickly extinguish the conflagration.

“It was a real quick knock-down,” he said. “We only used about 100 to 150 gallons of water.”

Island County Sheriff Mark Brown said a detective investigated the cause of the fire and found that it wasn’t suspicious. He said it probably started with a cigarette under the porch.

On Sunday, the Oak Harbor Fire Department responded to a roof fire at a SW Kaleeton Loop home. Battalion Chief Ray Merrill said the accidental fire burned some cedar shakes, but did not penetrate into the house.