Flames swept a Lincoln County home at just before 8am on Wednesday, destroying the home on North Cappel Road south of Moscow Mills. Smoke and fire damage makes it difficult to determine the cause of the fire’s cause, but total damage was estimated at $250,000.

Fire officials report the homeowners were out of town, but the fire was reported by a man who was asleep on a couch in the home. He escaped without injury and told firefighters he kindled a wood fire in the basement fireplace before falling asleep, but there was no evidence this touched off the fire that destroyed the home.