CHAMPION — A fire tore through a home in the 300 block of Aspen Drive NW in Champion early Wednesday morning, killing one resident, injuring four others, and destroying the property, Champion fire Chief Thomas Dempsey said.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the blaze, but as of Wednesday afternoon, no cause had been determined.

The fire broke out around 7:30 a.m., prompting a swift response from the Champion Fire Department, which arrived within two minutes, according to Dempsey. The home, occupied by an elderly man and woman and their grandson, was engulfed in flames and black smoke when crews arrived.

The man, identified as Bob Antonelli, 79, was rescued from a second-story window, but could not be revived. Emergency personnel attempted to resuscitate him on a gurney before transporting him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, said Paul Williamson, a neighbor who witnessed the fire.

His wife, Barbara, suffered smoke inhalation and second-degree burns and was taken to a hospital, but her condition remains unknown. Their grandson, who was staying in the basement, was treated for smoke inhalation. The fire chief described him as a “young adult.” A family dog also survived.

Two first responders also were injured.

Champion police Chief Larry Skaggs sustained smoke inhalation while attempting to enter the burning home, and a fire captain, Brandon Quiggle, was hospitalized for burns. Both were treated at a local hospital, but they’re expected to make a full recovery.

Williamson, a resident of the neighborhood, described the scene.

“I woke up and heard the fire trucks. Our whole street was full of them. Flames were shooting out of the front door, black smoke and flames out of the top,” he said.

The home was declared a total loss, leaving the family displaced. Williamson said the tight-knit community is rallying to support the survivors, with neighbors organizing to provide aid to the grandmother and her granddaughters, who live nearby.

State Fire Marshal investigators remained on scene into the afternoon, combing through debris to determine the cause.

“They’re great at what they do,” Williamson said. “I’m sure they’ll figure it out by the end of the day.”

The fire was a rare event for the quiet Champion Township neighborhood, which Williamson said is unaccustomed to large emergency responses. The investigation is ongoing and authorities have not released further details.