A fire significantly damaged a Clinton home Thursday afternoon.

South Whidbey Fire/EMS firefighters responded to reports of a home on fire on Central Avenue in Clinton, less than 500 feet from the fire protection district’s Clinton station. Firefighters responded quickly to knock down the flames that Deputy Chief Jon Beck said is believed to have started in an upstairs bedroom.

A woman and two children were home at the time, he said, and all escaped unscathed.

Within minutes, the blaze was extinguished and firefighters spent nearly an hour checking for flare ups and securing the two-story home with cedar siding.

“The whole upstairs has significant damage,” said Beck, adding that there was smoke damage throughout both levels of the home.

From the street, the back upper corner of the house was visibly charred. A haze covered Clinton’s commercial core for about 30 minutes during the fire, reaching as far north as Bob Galbreath Road.

The first fire truck to arrive ran out of water while running two hoses to attack the flames. A second truck connected to a hydrant at the end of the block to continue the flow. Beck said 18 firefighters responded to the call.

Neighbors and onlookers peered over fences, from porches and windows as the fire was extinguished.