BETHANY—A faulty wood stove is believed responsible for a fire that destroyed an East Bethany/Le Roy Road home Tuesday morning, Genesee County sheriff’s officials reported.

The blaze broke out before 9 a. m. at 5823 E. Bethany/Le Roy in a home owned by Louise R. Ward, 57, who was away at work at the time, officials said.

Authorities said the fire was reported by a Cheektowaga man headed to work. The witness saw the fire in a rear corner of the house, stopped and called 911. He and another man knocked on the house doors and windows, but no one was home, according to reports.

When authorities later talked with the homeowner, she told them she had stoked her wood stove and left the home for work at about 7:50 a. m.

Eight volunteer fire departments fought the fire in the home, which was declared a total loss. A dog and two cats died in the fire.