We are learning more about a fire that left a vacant Springfield home destroyed.

According to the fire department, the house on North Fourth Street was occupied by squatters before it went up in flames on Monday morning.

Fire Chief, Ed Canny, told me because squatters were inside before the fire started, the department’s main priority was making sure everyone got out of the home safely.

Crews were called to the home in the One Thousand Block of North Fourth Street around 7 a.m. on Monday.

The Springfield Fire Department was able to locate a man who was squatting inside, and he told them everyone was safely out of the home.

Canny said the home was engulfed in flames when they arrived.

“Our crews made the defensive attack because as soon as they arrived, part of the structure collapsed,” Canny said. “ With heavy fire showing, we set up the aerial master stream and started to put the fire out with that.”

Right now, the cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time and no injuries were reported.