A Belchertown family cleans up after a fire tears through their home. The head of the Nolan family was out of state when the fire broke out. His sons were watching the house when the blaze started and fire officials now think they know what caused it.

Belchertown Fire officials think they have pinpointed what caused a blaze that gutted a South Street home. The fire appears to have started inside a basement electrical panel when a wire short circuited. That malfunction caused a series of bizarre electrical mishaps, that may have saved the two brothers still inside.

"They heard the door bell ringing, the lights started to flicker, and their first evidence of smoke was when they came down to see who was at the door," says Belchertown Fire Captain John Workman.

When the door bell started ringing around 7 pm at the Belchertown house, the 17 and 21 year old brothers inside thought it was a prank, but quickly realized something serious was happening at their South Street home.

"They started to use the fire extinguisher, but it was overpowering that," says Workman. "Luckily they abandoned that and just got themselves out."

The brothers got safely outside with the family dog and called 911 from their cell phone, and though fire officials say it was the right decision, that cell phone call caused an additional delay of almost 10 minutes.

"A cell phone 911 call goes to the State Police barracks so there was a bit of a delay in response," says Workman.

The fire was eventually brought under control but the damage was done. The homeowner was out of state on vacation and rushed home to check on his sons and survey what is left of his home.

"It's a loss and naturally that's what he felt," says Workman. "He was concerned that everyone was safe."