An unoccupied rental house on Click Road in the Midway community was destroyed by a fire of undetermined origin early today.

Anthony Ball, chief of the Midway Volunteer Fire Department, said firefighters from his department and the Mosheim VFD, were dispatched to the blaze at 353 Click Road shortly before 1 a.m. today.

Click Road runs between Shackleford Road and Dulaney Road, according to Chief Ball.

"It was already on the ground [burned down] when we reached the scene," Chief Ball said of the small, frame residence.

A caller who had discovered the fire had reported to a 911 dispatcher that the house was essentially in ruins when he discovered the fire as he drove past the residence, Chief Ball said.

"The house is in a remote, isolated location," Chief Ball said. "There was just no one to see the fire in time for us to save the structure."

Ball said he did not know who owns the residence but noted that he understood it was a rental house.

"One of our firefighters who lives in the area said the last renters had moved out about two weeks ago," Chief Ball said.

He noted that firefighters were unable to determine where the fire began or what might have caused it.