No one was home when a house on West Washington Street caught fire Friday afternoon.

Winchester Fire-EMS was dispatched to the fire at 411 W. Washington St. shortly after 1 p.m. Friday. Battalion chief Scotty Bell said the fire appears to have started in the kitchen, but the exact cause has not been determined and is under investigation. The fire was contained to the kitchen and an adjoining room, and was brought under control quickly, he said.

The initial report was that someone was inside, Bell said, but the owner arrived shortly afterward and said the house was empty.

The remainder of the house suffered smoke and heat damage.

The house is owned by Muriell Mullins and occupied by his brother Robert Mullins.

Firefighters were on the scene for about two hours.