A fire that started in a basement damaged a house Thursday afternoon west of downtown, according to the Fort Wayne Fire Department.

At 4:20 p.m., firefighters were sent to 1318 Jones St. near College Street and West Jefferson Boulevard.

Flames in the basement had spread through air ducts to the first and second floors. No one was at home at the time, the department said.

It took 27 minutes to bring the fire under control, the department said. Minor fire and water damage, along with moderate smoke damage, were reported.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.