TEMPLE (July 16, 2009)—Investigators were looking Thursday for the cause of a fire in Temple that destroyed a house, an outbuilding and ignited a major grassfire.

The fire left four adults and three children, ages 6, 16 and 6-months, homeless.

The American Red Cross was assisting the displaced residents Thursday.

Searching 100-degree heat and a lack of water hampered firefighters from eight Bell County departments as they responded to the fire Wednesday afternoon.

The fire that engulfed the three-bedroom home on Iglesia Lane just off Little Mexico Road north of the Temple Airport was reported at around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Firefighters from Temple and Moffat responded initially.

Assistance was requested from other departments as water supplies began to run low and additional crews were needed to spell firefighters who were battling not only the flames, but also the late afternoon heat.

The Bell County East Side Strike Team responded and tankers ferried water to the firefighters who were battling the flames.

Crews from Salado, Troy, Morgan’s Point, Rogers, Belton, Holland and Bartlett joined the effort to fight the fire and remained at the scene early Wednesday evening.