A fire destroyed a home south of Bismarck Wednesday morning.

Bismarck Rural Fire Chief Al Klein said firefighters were dispatched to the home around 10:15 a.m. The initial report was of smoke and flames in the basement of the house at 3803 E. Regent Drive. By the time firefighters arrived minutes later, the house was engulfed in flames, Klein said.

Smoke billowing from the house could be seen from miles away. Flames glowed orange through the windows and eventually burned through the roof, eating away at the shingles until all that remained were walls.

Several propane tanks on the deck behind the house caught fire, causing small explosions, Klein said. He said the explosions did not cause any additional damage.

Klein said the home was a total loss. No one was hurt in the blaze. The house, owned by Anthony Danzl, had been evacuated before firefighters arrived on scene. Danzl declined comment.

The fire was contained by about 11 a.m. Klein said firefighters would be on scene for an hour or more to get the remainder of the embers extinguished.

"We don't know what caused the fire," he said.

Klein said firefighters and investigators would not be able to work on determining the cause of the fire until later today or Thursday.

Metro Ambulance and the Red Cross were on scene at the fire.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@bismarcktribune.com.)