Major damage was averted June 25 when officials say firefighters arrived at the scene of a Rehoboth Beach fire just in the nick of time.

Members of the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Co. responded to an automatic fire alarm at 6:36 p.m. at 2 St. Lawrence St., and heard a smoke alarm but did not immediately see an active fire, said Kent Swarts, RBVFC spokesman. No one was at the home, and firefighters contacted a neighbor standing on her second-story balcony, who pointed to flames in the upstairs of the home in question. A structure fire call was sent out, and Lewes and Bethany Beach firefighters assisted, Swarts said.

The crew entered the front door and quickly put out the fire, Swarts said.

“A number of factors worked in our favor tonight; thanks to the alert neighbor offering to help out and very efficient work by our small crew on scene. This fire would have spread in short order, and this would have been a large fire with major damage,” said Bryan Burton, command officer on call.

Smoke from the fire caused damage to the kitchen, dining and living room areas of the house, but damage from the fire itself was limited to a small area, Swarts said.

The Delaware State Fire Marshal is investigating. The homeowner was notified and drove in from the Washington, D.C. area to assess the situation, Swarts said.