Flames and heavy smoke emerged from 280 Douglas Street West at about 11:00 a.m. last Saturday.
Including damage from smoke and water, 50 per cent of the house was lost to its five residents of three adults and two students, said Fire Chief, Ian Leslie of Vanderhoof.
The older house’s use of wood shavings as insulation had made the fire more difficult to extinguish, Leslie added.
18 firefighters were on scene for five and a half hours, including post-fire cleanup, for the incident.
At press time on Monday, Leslie said the cause of fire is still unknown and investigation continues.