An evening fire Thursday gutted a Eudora rental home where three people lived.

Fire officials found no one home at the time of the fire.

Crews from the Eudora Fire Department responded to the blaze at 926 Church St. about 7:30 p.m. and had the fire under control by 9 p.m.

Eudora’s assistant fire chief, Mike Underwood, said the house was engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived on the scene and that the damage was extensive.

“It’s on all floors of the structure, including the attic and inside,” Underwood said.

Underwood said the cause was not yet known and that an investigation was under way.

Tonya Purcell, who lives across the street from the house, said she saw smoke from the fire as she drove home. The fire started at the back of the house, she said, and spread quickly.

Purcell said her husband had seen flames coming from the house and called the fire department. She said he went to the house and tried to make sure no one was home.

“He was pounding on the door, making sure no one was in there,” Purcell said. Her husband, not getting any answer, “left it up to the people who knew what they were doing.”

Firefighters battle a house fire at 926 Church St. in Eudora. Thursday night's blaze destroyed the rental home, but no one was injured.

Fire officials had yet to contact any of the three residents by the time the fire was under control.

Jane Blocher, executive director of the Douglas County chapter of the American Red Cross, said the residents would receive assistance from her organization.

6News video: Eudora fire destroys home (04-14-05)