A home under renovation on U.S. 68 was destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.

A passerby saw the two-story home at 4492 U.S. 68 West fully engulfed at 1:15 a.m. and called Danville 911 Dispatch, said Emergency Management Director Mike Wilder.

“It was a defensive battle to keep it contained,” he said. The Boyle County Fire Department was dispatched, and Wilder said in addition to battling the blaze, they also had to focus on a propane tank located on the premises. 

“The roof had collapsed pretty quick,” he said. “The house was a total loss.

Tim Middleton, public information officer with the Boyle County Fire Department, said it was unclear at the time what started the fire or it originated.

“The majority of the structure was gone, making it difficult to determine the cause. At this time we are still uncertain,” he said.

The owners, Brandon and Stacy Miller, were not in the home. Wilder said it was under renovation. 

Wilder said it was not clear how long the fire had been burning, as “it isn’t a heavily populated, heavily traveled road.”