A family found their home engulfed in flames today after their alarm company alerted them an intruder alarm had gone off inside.

The alarm company contacted the family after the alarm went off, and upon returning to the home, the residents discovered it was on fire.

Fire crews were dispatched to the 24 North Jersey St. home just before noon on reports that it was "engulfed in flames" and pouring out smoke, according to District Fire Chief James Rose. 

The fire appeared to start in the rear of the house and climb to the second floor, where it spread and caused between $35,000 and $50,000 in damage, he said.

"We haven't pinpointed the cause yet and we have investigators on the scene now," Rose said at the scene. "I'm pretty certain we'll be able to nail it down with good certainty."

This fire was unlike other recent fires because it occurred in an occupied structure, but Rose said the fact that the family was alerted during the daytime prevented it from becoming more serious.

"If it had happened at night, it could have grown considerably before it was reported, or they could have been home at sleep. Anything that was lost today was material and can be replaced," Rose said.