The Stearns County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the cause of Friday afternoon fire.

Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner says the deputies were called to a house fire in the 15,000 block of 4th Avenue East in Lynden Township just before 1 p.m. on Friday.

Deputies say neighbor Matthew Bicknell was in the yard raking leaves when he noticed a large amount of smoke coming from the home of 43-year-old Nanette Wasik.

Bicknell was not able to get ahold of anyone in the house and eventually kicked the door down. Bicknell was able to get three dogs out of the house. No one was home at the time of the fire.

The Clearwater Fire Department along with the South Haven and Annandale Fire Departments were able to put out the fire. The fire departments believe the fire to have started in the garage near a wood burning stove; however the stove was not in use at the time.