Members of a Summerset family, including their dog, are safe but their Manchester Street home is a total loss following a fire early Thursday.

Black Hawk fire chief Dennis Mallow said a member of the Kevin Tipton family discovered the fire in the garage about 6:30 a.m.

Deputy state fire marshal Cliff Dahl said the fire started in the common wall between the house and garage. Dahl is still investigating the fire's cause.

In the attached garage, the fire had plenty of fuel, Mallow said. Floor-cleaning equipment, wax and strippers were stored there, along with a car and two off-road motorcycles. The fire moved quickly up through the garage.

"When we arrived, the flames were jumping probably 20-30 feet out of the roof," Mallow said.

The fire spread from the garage into the attic of the whole house, according to Mallow.

The fire's intense heat and smoke ruined most of the family's possessions on the main floor, but items in the basement were salvageable, Mallow said.

Because of the heat and humidity, Mallow requested additional fire departments to help with the blaze.

The Piedmont, North Haines, Rapid Valley, Whispering Pines, Box Elder and Sturgis volunteer fire departments and Pennington County Search and Rescue were called to aid Black Hawk volunteers.

The Black Hills Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the Tipton family, according to Mallow said.

Contact Andrea Cook at andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com or 394-8423.