Major house fire in north end (6 photos)

A home on Fifth Line, near Old Highway 17, was fully destroyed in a fire late this afternoon.

It is not yet known if the house was occupied, said Damon Ferris, Sault Fire Services platoon chief, speaking to SooToday.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The Ontario Fire Marshal's office will be called in to investigate.

Ontario Provincial Police were first on the scene, followed by Sault Fire Services and Sault Police.

Fire Services were called at 3:42 p.m.

During the fire's peak, three pumper trucks, one tanker and a command vehicle were on the scene.

Fire Services were still on the scene at 5:45 p.m. 

The fire sent up plumes of thick black smoke that could be seen for several kilometres.

SooToday will have more information as it becomes available.

(PHOTO: Firefighters work to douse what is left of a structure in the Fifth Line and Old Highway 17 area. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday)