ORANGE — An electrical fire that started in the basement of a 23 Burrill Ave. home on Tuesday afternoon left the two-story building “uninhabitable,” according to Fire Chief James Young.

Homeowner Naomi Carlyle said she was cooking in her kitchen at around 1 p.m. When she walked into her living room to charge her phone, she said she smelled smoke.

“I went downstairs and I saw some smoke coming from one of the [electrical] panels downstairs,” Caryle said. “I opened it and it kind of looked like burning coal.”

Firefighters from multiple departments, including Orange, Phillipston, Erving and Athol, surrounded the house Tuesday afternoon after the fire was reported.

Upon entering the basement, Young said firefighters saw “a lot” of smoke and fire creeping its way from the electrical panels up to the ceiling. However, firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire to the basement and extinguish it, he added. No injuries were reported.

“We went around back toward the basement, and then there was smoke coming from the basement door. We quickly identified it as an active electrical fire through the sound coming from the basement,” Young said. “The firefighters did an excellent job keeping it to the area of the main electrical panel in the basement, with no extension beyond that to the first or second floors.”

However, Young said the fire “completely destroyed” the home’s electric system, leaving it uninhabitable. It also caused heavy smoke damage throughout the house.

The Orange Police Department and Northfield EMS also responded. Carlyle said she has homeowner’s insurance and a place to stay while her home is uninhabitable.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.