A Freetown family was left homeless by a fire that destroyed their home early Friday morning.

Eliza Gullett told investigators she woke up and noticed a small fire on the pipe coming from the wood stove used to heat the home she shared with Jason McKinney and their children at 10018 N. County Road 675W, according to a report from Jackson County Officer Aaron Wilkins.

Lacking any way of extinguishing the fire, the couple said they gathered their children and exited the home, which is owned by Vivian McKinney, Wilkins reported.

Firefighters from Pershing Township Volunteer Fire Department spent about four hours fighting the fire, reported at 5:47 a.m. Friday. Firefighters from Brownstown, Hamilton and Owen townships volunteer fire departments assisted.

The Southeast chapter of the American Red Cross was called in to assist the family.