Conditions are brutal at the scene of house fire in Winsloe, just north of Charlottetown, that started in the middle of a massive winter storm, the local fire chief says.

A call reporting heavy smoke and flames in the basement came in at about 6:30 a.m. Monday, North River Fire Chief Kirby Wakelin told CBC News.

A married couple living in the home got out safely. Fire trucks from the North River Fire Department took about two hours to travel 15 kilometres behind a plow during the storm. At the time, close to 70 centimetres of snow had fallen, winds were blowing at more than 70 km/h, and snow was continuing to fall.

More than a dozen firefighters are on scene but Wakelin said the home will be a total write off with storm conditions making it impossible to contain the fire.

Wakelin said plow operators helped firefighters make it to the scene of the fire. Another fire department also tried to help but had to turn back.