A mother and two young children escaped unharmed from a fire in a South Gorham home Monday afternoon.

Homeowner Jason Oney said at the scene his wife and two sons were home when fire erupted in their two-story home at 21 Distant Pines Drive. The children’s ages are 3 and 1.

“I smelled smoke. I grabbed them and called 911,” Lindsey Oney said.

Gorham Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre said the one of the children was asleep in a second-story bedroom where the fire erupted. Lefebvre said origin of the fire appeared to be an electrical problem in a ceiling.

Lefebvre said firefighters extinguished the blaze with water from a hydrant in a fire pond 1,500 feet away. He said the home was equipped with smoke detectors and Scarborough Fire Department assisted Gorham.

Lefebvre estimated damage at $7,000 to $8,000.

Mike Banker of Gorham fire police was first at the scene. Banker said smoke was going through the roof when firefighters arrived. Lindsey Oney credited the quick response of firefighters in preventing more damage.

Cutline (GOR fire 1 or 2) Fire damages Gorham home