Fire Chief Mickey Healey, attaches hose to hydrant as firefighters responded to a house fire Friday afternoon in northeast Austin. — Matt Peterson/matt.peterson@austindailyherald.com

Smoke engulfed the inside of a northeast Austin home Friday afternoon; however, nobody was home, according to the Austin Fire Department.

Mike Conway suits up to head into a smoke-filled home Friday afternoon in northeast Austin.

The Austin Fire Department arrived at the house, 712 11th St. NE, at about 2:30 p.m. and entered shortly after.

While no flames were visible from the outside, smoke crept out from a vent in the roof, from windows and the front door. Firefighters ventilated the house shortly after they arrived and removed several charred items. Fire Chief Mickey Healey said combustible chemicals in the basement somehow ignited and caused the fire. Still, damage was limited, and the structure of the house is well intact.

“Most of the heat and flame damage was kept to a small corner in the basement,” Healey said.

However, smoke filled the basement, first and second floors.

Firefighters later informed one of two residents about the blaze when he arrived home. The emergency crews cleared the scene at about 4 p.m.