Firefighters were still on the scene at 3 p.m., but Northfield Fire Chief Bruce Cummings said the fire was under control. He said the fire was in the rear of the house, which had both interior and exterior damage.

Northfield police said Patrolman Michael Bach saw smoke coming from the residence and then saw fire coming through a window in the rear of the house around 2:20 p.m.

The statement said Bach radioed to dispatch and then ran into the residence, where he located the family and evacuated them without injury. Police said the family included an adult male, three teenage children and two dogs.