Syracuse, N.Y. — Improperly discarded ashes from a wood stove sparked a house fire early Tuesday morning that displaced two people, according to fire officials.

Around 5:02 a.m., firefighters were called to a 2½-story home at 414 Shuart Ave. where they found flames showing from the back of the home, according to Capt. Erik Caster, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Fire Department.

Firefighters stretched hoses into the home to fight the fire from inside and search for occupants.

Caster said residents had already escaped. Firefighters encountered heavy fire on the first floor that had spread to a second-floor back porch. The blaze was brought under control in about 20 minutes and declared out within 40 minutes.

Firefighters battled the fire in temperatures hovering around 8 degrees with a

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