BETHEL - An unoccupied house in a remote area of town was destroyed by fire shortly after midnight Wednesday.

Fire Chief Michael Jodrey of the Bethel Fire Department said a single-family dwelling at 15 Thompson Mountain Road was a total loss by the time firefighters arrived. The blaze was reported around 12:25 a.m.

"We're not sure how long it was going before anybody knew it," Jodrey said. "It's way up in the woods."

Thompson Mountain Road is off East Bethel Road, which runs from Route 26 in Greenwood north to Intervale Road.

Jodrey said neighbors reported hearing a bang and seeing flames over the treetops. Fire departments from Bethel, Newry and Greenwood responded to the fire, along with Bethel Rescue.

"Some renovations had been going on yesterday and yesterday evening, but the contractors were not there at the time of the fire," Jodrey said. "The house wasn't occupied."

The State Fire Marshal's Office was investigating the fire Wednesday. Jodrey said investigators had not determined the cause of the fire, but that it was not suspicious.