ALDEN — A fire that destroyed a family’s home in Alden on Tuesday started from a propane heater that fell over in a crawlspace underneath the house, according to authorities.

The heater was being used to thaw out pipes in the northwest part of the house and had been turned on about 30 minutes prior to the start of the fire, said Doug Johnson with the Freeborn County Fire Investigation Team. He described the blaze as accidental.

Johnson said the house is considered a total loss and estimated damages at $45,000.

The home, at 248 N. Broadway, was home to six people — including two young children, their parents and grandparents. Three were home at the time of the fire and safely got out, along with a parrot and a cockatiel.

Johnson said the house had a small basement, with most of the house sitting on the crawlspace. It was difficult for firefighters to access even the basement with their gear on, and the house had an abundance of belongings.

Alden Fire Chief Jim Thunstedt said on Tuesday because of this — and because of the age and structure of the house — firefighters first tried to attack the blaze from the outside.

The fire burned through the floorboards into the main level of the home, and smoke could be seen billowing out of all of the windows.

Firefighters from Alden, Conger, Freeborn and Wells responded. The structure was still standing but badly damaged when the fire was put out.

The house was owned by the grandparents, Marcelino and Roxie Talamantes.