APPLETON — An Appleton husband and wife were able to safely evacuate their home around 9 p.m. Thursday, when smoke filled the residence at 1968 Collinstown Road and fire was discovered.

Appleton Fire Chief Dave Stone said that Connie Lundy and her husband, Peter Knight, were home when the fire broke out.

“The fire was in the bathroom and kitchen area, and it gutted those areas,” said Stone.

Stone said at this point, the cause of the fire is undetermined. He said that an investigator with the State Fire Marhals’ Office was coming out Friday afternoon to help determine and/or confirm the cause.

Firefighters from Union and Washington, as well as Union Ambulance, joined Appleton firefighters in the battle to save the home. In total, about 28 first responders were at the scene.

“It was a tough fire to put out,” said Stone. “It was hard to get at the fire as there were many layers of house upon house, upon house, upon renovation, upon renovation.”

Stone said it appeared that the 1-1/2-story house had undergone many remodels, providing areas and pockets where fire could travel and smolder that were hard to access. He said when it was all out, 1/3 of the house was gutted and 2/3 was still in pretty good shape. He said the homeowners were going to stay in a camper they had on the property.

He also said that there were no injuries to either the homeowners or firefighters, and the scene was cleared at 12:58 a.m. Friday.

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or 706-6655.