Firefighters with four local departments were needed to bring a blaze that that destroyed a Dowagiac home under control Saturday afternoon.

Crews with the Dowagiac Fire Department were dispatched to a reported fire at a residence at 207 Grove St. around 5:35 p.m., said Deputy Fire Chief Guy Evans. Crews were joined shortly thereafter by members of the Indian Lake, Wayne Township and Pokagon Township fire departments. Firefighters brought the blaze under control around 6:25 p.m.

No one was injured in the incident, officials said. However, authorities believe that the combination of fire, smoke and water damage made the residence a total loss.

Authorities with the department believe the fire was caused when one of the residents of the house, a child, disposed of a stick in a trash can outside that was used to light candles inside. However, the instrument was still lit at the time, causing the garbage to catch fire.

The child attempted to extinguish the blaze using water, but fled when it proved uncontrollable. A good Samaritan heard the smoke detectors go off, called 911 and rescued the occupant, said Dowagiac Fire Investigator Jeff Gollnick.

The blaze spread from the outside of the home into the attic, and made its way to the front of the home before firefighters were able to extinguish it.

Officials are continuing to investigate the incident.