EASTHAMPTON - Firefighters from three communities responded this morning to a house fire on Loudville Road that started in the chimney.

Fire Chief David Mottor said that the homeowner's 19-year-old son reported at 6:37 a.m. that there was heavy smoke coming from the chimney of the 311 Loudville Road home.

Firefighters from Easthampton, Northampton and Westhampton spent nearly three hours at the residence, where flames had penetrated the chimney and starting burning in the wall behind the mantle, moving up to the second floor and attic.

Mottor estimated that the house incurred between $60,000 and $70,000 in smoke, water and fire damage.

The home is owned by Andrew and Janet Sharp, according to the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds. No one was in the house at the time of the fire.

The couple's son told firefighters that he had gone out early this morning to assist a friend who was moving when another friend called his cell phone to tell him the home appeared to be on fire, Mottor said.

The man was watching the house for his parents, who are vacationing in Maine, Mottor said. He had used the fireplace Monday evening, Mottor said.

Mottor said that the owners will need to fix some electrical wiring and outlets that were damaged in the fire. He estimated that the work would take several days.

The Red Cross offered assistance to the man, but he declined and said he would stay with a friend, according to Mottor.

Matt Pilon can be reached at mpilon@gazettenet.com.