A family of five was left homeless by a two-alarm fire that damaged a home on Route 3 Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters were first alerted at 3:40 p.m. that fire was coming from the back of the building at 6 Lyfords Crossing. The Campton-Thornton Fire department called for a second alarm seven minutes later.

The fire was close to Exit 29 off Interstate 93 and a stretch of Rotue 3 was closed for several hours.

For a time firefighters were able only to fight the flames from outside the building.

Jay Silvia, a neighbor, said new owners had recently purchased the residence and were in the process of doing renovations.

The fire was reported under control shortly after 6 p.m. Personnel and equipment from mutual aid companies had all left the scene by 7:30 p.m. Campton-Thornton crews remained on scene into the evening.

The Red Cross reported that the house was home to a family of five, including three children, ages 5, 8 and 16. The family was not identified. Everyone inside the home was able to escape along with one of the family's cats, the Red Cross reported. However another cat was still missing Tuesday evening.

The family was reported to be staying with relatives in the area. The Red Cross provided them with clothing and food.

Assisting Campton-Thornton fire crews in battling the fire were personnel and equipment from Plymouth, Holderness, Ashland, Rumney, Bristol and New Hampton. Meredith provided coverage at the Campton-Thornton station.