TEMPLE (December 29, 2009)—The cause of a house fire that broke out on Dec. 23 and then reignited early on Christmas Eve in a house at 1211 N. 2nd St. in Temple has been ruled undetermined, fire officials said.

The first fire, however, was unintentional and appears to have been the result of a couch that positioned over the grate of a working furnace, officials said.

The fire displaced two women and a child and killed a dog, a cat and a pet snake.

The flames caused heavy damaged to the living room of the home and the rest of the house was damaged by smoke and heat.

The first report of the fire came at about 8 p.m. on Dec. 23, as the two women were moving into the home.

The fire reignited early on Christmas Eve morning and the flames, fanned by gusty winds from a cold front, engulfed the house.

The flames threatened a neighboring house, which firefighters were able to protect, but the house where the fire started was a total loss, officials said.

The second fire was likely the result of the gusty winds fanning smoldering embers from the fire blaze that ignited exposed wood, officials said.