Montville ― An early morning fire on Friday destroyed one home and damaged another in the Oakdale section of town, near Oxoboxo Lake.

Montville Fire Marshal Paul Barnes said the fire, reported at about 1:30 a.m., occurred at a two-family home at 15 Beach Lane. Firefighters arrived to find the home in flames and called on support from multiple area departments for manpower and to help shuttle water to the fire.

The lone occupant of the home was able to escape the home and not injured. One of the two units was vacant.

Barnes said firefighters were able to protect three nearby cottages from catching fire but one neighboring home did sustain some damage. Three vehicles outside 15 Beach Lane also were damaged.

Montville’s four volunteer fire departments were joined by firefighters from departments in Salem, Bozrah, Franklin and Norwich. Barnes said firefighters pumped water from Oxoboxo Lake and used tankers to transport the water to the scene.

One of two cats that lived in the home is missing. The other was not injured.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Barnes said he has called on the state’s Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit to assist in the investigation because of the extent of the damage.