A neighbor smelled smoke and went outside to investigate. There were flames shooting from one room of the house next door, located in the 16600 block of 259th Street Avenue Court East, according to the release from East Pierce Fire and Rescue.

The home was a total loss and a car was also damaged, but no one was home at the time. The cause of the blaze was still under investigation Sunday.

Orting Valley Fire and Buckley firefighters also responded.

Ian Demsky, The News Tribune