A North Highland home was destroyed by fire early Friday but thankfully no one was at home when it started.

Firefighters with the Murfreesboro Fire Department responded to a fire at 725 North Highland Ave. just after 4 a.m., according to Murfreesboro Fire Department Assistant Chief Allen Swader.

"When they arrived there were flames coming out of the roof about 75 to 100 feet high," Swader said.

Firefighters battled the blaze for around two hours before entry to the home, which was gutted, could be made, according to fire officials. Once inside firefighters hit "hot spots" to keep the fire from growing larger again.

Fire officials later learned that the home's occupants, a mother and infant daughter, had "left the home this morning to go stay with (family)," Swader said. There names have not been released.

The home, a one-story ranch style structure built in 1935, is owned by Jim W. Porter, according to the Tennessee Property Assessor's Web site. It was last assessed at $26,280. Porter owns another home on the section of Highland where the fire occurred, according to assessor records.

Other homes in the area were not damaged as a result of the fire, according to Swader. Firefighters were "able to protect exposures."

The Murfreesboro Fire Department's investigative division will look into the cause of the fire.

Firefighters on Engine 1, Engine 15, Rescue 26 and Ladder 8 responded to the scene.

Article provided by The Daily News Journal www.dnj.com

BY MARK BELL • MBELL@DNJ.COM • April 10, 2010