Two people escaped from a fire that destroyed a home in Clifton Monday morning.

Deputy Chief Jeffrey Adams, of the Clifton Fire Department, says one of those occupants tried to re-enter the house in an attempt to remove cats. That man was taken to St. Joseph?s Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. There is no word on the extent of his injuries.

?[The] fire appeared to have started in the basement and extended to the second floor,? Adams says.

According to Adams, the basement was filled with items in storage, which made it harder to control the fire. Firefighters were able to prevent the flames from spreading to neighboring homes.

Neighbors say there were four people living in the home, but Adams says there were only two people inside at the time of the fire.