Ithaca's Fire Department is investigating a house fire on University Avenue Sunday morning
Quick work by passing motorists saved an Ithaca home this morning. About 7:15am, the motorist noticed a porch fire at 134 University Avenue, and called 911 while a passenger alerted the home's occupants.
A police officer arrived before firefighters, and used a dry chemical extinguisher to slow the flames. Firefighters were able to dismantle the porch and outside columns of the half-timber plaster house, and reach the flames before they did interior damage.
The house at 134 University is home to five college age students, and according to reports was for sale recently. The fire apparently started at the base of the front porch steps and was spreading underneath the porch. Cause remains under investigation.
