A fire in southwest Lawrence on Friday night forced 11 family members out onto the street after flames ripped through the basement of their house.

Paul Finch Jr. said he was walking down a flight of stairs in his family’s home at 2417 Via Linda Drive when he first saw the fire.

Firefighters finish working at a house fire Friday night at 2417 Via Linda Drive. The fire, which started in the basement from unknown causes, forced a household of 11 to be relocated.

“I just turned the corner and there was a huge flame,” he said.

Finch lived at the home with his parents, six siblings and two other relatives. Seven of the 11 people who live at the house were home when the fire broke out. They all managed to get outside without injury.

Firefighters responded to the call just before 8 p.m., eventually sending four engines to the scene.

Douglas County Fire & Medical Chief Rob Kort said when the first fire unit arrived, smoke was visible from the back of the house. Later, small flames could be seen coming off a basement door.

Firefighters quickly had the blaze under control and were able to prevent the flames from spreading, but managed to attract a sizable crowd in the process.

Neighbors gathered around to watch as firefighters moved in and out of the house with hoses and axes. Several of the Finches looked on, wrapped in blankets to keep warm.

Kort said fire damage was limited to the basement, but the upstairs sustained significant smoke damage. The fire investigator had not determined a cause for the blaze as of Friday night.

The Douglas County Chapter of the Red Cross will provide assistance to the Finch family.