Below-freezing temperatures added to the woes faced by McCandless firefighters who battled an early morning blaze today near the town's western border with Franklin Park.

When volunteers from the Ingomar and Highland fire departments arrived in the 9500 block of Hillard Road shortly before 6 a.m., they faced heavy smoke and saw flames shooting up from a home's basement.

They called for help from the town's third unit, Peebles Volunteer Fire Co., according to Fire Marshal Daniel Stack.

"The initial crew went into the basement and was able to extinguish the fire ... but it had jumped through an open stairwell to the upper floors," Stack said.

The home's two occupants had fled the house after they awoke, choking from the smoke, he said. Neither was seriously injured.

Stack identified the house as the Englert residence.

After low temperatures caused some equipment to freeze up, McCandless called on Franklin Park volunteers to assist. About 40 firefighters were on the scene, Stack estimated.

The house appeared to be a total loss, he said.

While no official ruling has been made, the fire appears to have been caused by a malfunctioning wood-burning stove in the basement, he said.