Outdoor space heater starts fire that displaces Northfield family

An outdoor space heater started a fire that temporarily displaced a Northfield family.

No injuries were reported from the fire, which started on an outdoor deck and reached the roof of the attached home, police said.

At 6:48 a.m. Saturday, Northfield police officers and the Northfield firefighters responded to a fire in the 300 block of Meadowbrook Drive.

A resident reported the fire, which started when an outdoor space heater on the backyard deck made a loud pop and then started a blaze. The fire quickly spread to the home, police said.

Police officers arrived first at the home and immediately evacuated all residents and a pet from the area, then attempted to slow the fire with their squad fire extinguishers.

Northfield firefighters then arrived and extinguished the fire.

Officers said the fire engulfed about half the backyard deck and spread upward on the home's north side. The fire burned a window trim and shattered the window, scorched the soffits, and continued onto the roof before it finally was extinguished.

The home's occupants and their pet initially were led across the street to a safer spot. They will stay in temporary housing until repairs can be made to the home, police said.

There was no initial estimate of loss and the fire remains under investigation, police said.