Seven volunteer departments responded last night to a house fire in Slippery Rock Township.

A call came in at 11 p.m. for the home of Sam and Joyce Hill of 1170 Old State Road.

Bill Lunn, chief of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Department, said the blaze appeared to have started in an upstairs bedroom.

“The guys did a good job confining (the fire) to the upstairs and saving the bottom floor of the house,” he said. Lunn said two upstairs bedrooms were affected by the blaze. He noted the house is an older two-story farm house.

State police fire marshal Timothy Morando of the Butler station said he was called at 1 a.m.

“I was told the fire did not appear to be of a suspicious nature,” he noted.

Morando said he plans to inspect the site today.

In addition to Slippery Rock, fire departments from Shenango, Taylor and Wayne townships, South New Castle Borough and Chewton responded to the call.

Lunn also called out the Rapid Intervention Team from Neshannock Township. This team, he said, stands by to assist firefighters.

“I had men inside a burning house,” he said. “You never know what to expect. You have to be ready.”

Lunn said a total of about 40 firefighters turned out. He said he remained on the scene until 3:40 a.m.

Representatives of the American Red Cross assisted the Hills in finding a place to stay temporarily.