Officials are working to determine the cause of a Sunday nightfire that almost destroyed a large home at the corner of NorthChurch and Catherine streets.

Brookhaven Fire Department Shift Capt. Randy Sykes saidinvestigators from the state fire marshal’s office will be broughtin to try to determine the origin of the blaze that caused severedamage to a large two-story, five-car garage house at 501 NorthChurch St. The home is owned by Edward McArthur.

Firefighters said no one was at home at the time that the firebroke out. When firefighters arrived on the scene at 6:36 p.m.Sunday, the fire was showing through a second-story window.

“It was burning in the attic on the north side of the house,”Sykes said.

The structure had several built-on additions, which firefighterson the scene said made it harder to contain the fire to one area ofthe home.

Sykes said the home had 70 percent damage to the structure and65 percent damage to the contents. He said the homeowner does,however, have insurance.

“Of course there was smoke and water damage throughout thehouse,” he said.

Several off-duty firefighters came in to assist in the effort,and Brookhaven police officers blocked off streets to keeponlooking crowds away. Firefighters returned to their stationsaround 9:45 p.m.