Two jump to safety as house burns

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Two Portsmouth women had to jump to safety from a first floor window as their home was destroyed by fire Sunday morning.

Firefighters responded to the 4900 block South Street just after 4 a.m. for reports of a house fire. When crews arrived on the scene they found a one-story home being consumed by fire.

A fire department spokesman tells WAVY.com that while one man who lived at the home was able to get out through the front door, two women had to jump out of a first floor window to escape the flames.

Firefighters began attacking the fire from the outside of the house and were able to bring it under control in about 20 minutes.

No one injuries were reported.

Fire officials estimate that 60 to 70 percent of the home was destroyed by the fire.

The cause is under investigation.