The fire that displaced a family of eight in West Lawn was accidental, fire officials have determined.

The two-alarm fire started Wednesday in a 2 ½-story duplex at 2127 Penn Ave., next to Wells Fargo Bank, shortly before 5:30 p.m.

Fire crews arrived within three minutes of the alarm, said Chief Colin Hackman of Spring Township Fire Rescue Services.

Crews made entry and rescued three cats, and later recovered the carcass of a cat that died in the fire, the chief said.

All of the residents safely escaped on their own.

Hackman said the fire started on the second floor of the rental home and an investigation determined the cause was accidental. He did not release an exact cause.

He said the fire caused about $75,000 in damage. The home is uninhabitable but repairable, he said.

The family is being housed with help from American Red Cross Berks County.

The fire occurred at rush hour and closed both directions of Penn Avenue, also known as Route 422, while a hose was stretched across the street from a hydrant.

Crews had the fire under control within 15 minutes, containing the fire damage to a second-floor bedroom, Hackman said. But the sustained smoke and heat damage throughout the second floor and water damage on the first floor, he added.

According to Berks County property records, the home is owned by Lee F. Knoll of West Lawn.

The adjoining rental home was not damaged, the chief said.

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