A fire forced a Mandan family out of its home Friday evening.

Mandan Fire Chief Steve Nardello said no one was home when the fire broke out, and neighbors reported it.

Red Cross will provide shelter for the residents of the home, Nardello said.

The fire was called in at 5:53 p.m. Firefighters had the blaze extinguished before 7 p.m. and were putting out hot spots in the front of the home.

A small crowd stood in the frigid air and watched firefighters work Friday evening. The family who lived in the home waited in a car to hear details of the fire.

Vita Newman said her mother, Marie Peltier, her brother, Allen Peltier, and his family live in the rented home.

Allen Peltier said he took his mother to play bingo, and the house was on fire when he returned.

Newman said her niece called to tell her about the fire, then Newman picked Marie Peltier up at the bingo parlor.

"All her cards are still there,"Newman said.

Nardello said the cause of the fire at the home at 203 6th Ave. NW is still under investigation.

Allen Peltier said electrical breakers had been going off at the home for several days, and they had reported it to the landlord. He said they have been living in the home for several months.

Nardello said the house was not ruined in the fire. The majority of the fire was contained to the front of the home, he said.

"The back of the house is still in pretty good shape," he said.

Marie Peltier remained in a running vehicle while her family checked on the status of the fire. Newman said her mother was quite shook up over the blaze. She said Marie Peltier does not have rental insurance and probably lost most of her furniture in the fire.

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