FARMINGTON — A NorthStar ambulance employee on his way to work woke a mother and two children and helped them escape their burning home on Route 27 early Saturday morning, fire Chief Terry Bell said Monday.

No one was injured.

Bell said Gabe Gunning was driving by on his way to work at Sugarloaf and noticed smoke coming from the house at 964 New Vineyard Road. The house is next to Ramsdell Road.

The home belongs to Cory Bellefeuille, and his girlfriend and her children, ages 7 and 2, were asleep there, Bell said. Names of the three were not in the fire report.

The fire in the single-story home apparently started near a wood stove in the basement, he said. It was reported at 6:20 a.m.

There was a lot of damage in the basement, including some structural damage. It can be rebuilt, Bell said, noting that wiring and plumbing work is needed. The main floor received mostly smoke damage.

The home cannot be lived in as it is, although personal belongings on the main floor can be cleaned and saved.

“Everything worked together well,” Bell said. “Firefighters were able to get in and knock down the fire. There was a lot of smoke throughout the whole house.”

The home is not insured.

The Red Cross is providing lodging for the mother and children.

Along with 14 firefighters from Farmington Fire and Rescue, mutual aid from Strong, New Vineyard, Temple, Jay, Wilton and Industry was called. Nearly 30 firefighters helped at the scene.

abryant@sunjournal.com