The Nikiski Fire Department responded to a house fire in Nikiski on Monday evening.

Deputy Chief Trent Burnett said about 15 firefighters responded to a call received at approximately 4:06 p.m. He said no one was in the house, located on Dividend Street, when they arrived.

Burnett called in members from the Division of Forestry to assist with the fire, out of fear it would spread to the trees in close proximity to the house.

“It had the potential to get into the woods,” Burnett said. “With as dry as it is, I didn’t want to take a chance.”

Wade Armstrong, the owner of the two-story home, said he has lived in the house since he was 7 years old. He was visiting his boss at the time of the fire, preparing to go fishing.

“My neighbor’s wife was driving by, and she called him and he called me,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said he was also worried the fire might have spread to the woods behind his house, but firefighters had the blaze under control soon after they arrived.

According to a press release sent out Monday evening, the cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the house has been “declared a total loss.”

The release states and outbuilding and a vehicle were burned by the fire in addition to the house.

Personnel from the Kenai Fire Department and the Alaska State Troopers also assisted with the fire.

Reach Megan Pacer at megan.pacer@peninsulaclarion.com.