The Kanawha County Sheriff is investigating a house fire that neighbors said began with an explosion in the garage. Firefighters arrived on the scene around 7:30 Thursday morning to the 600 block of Stewart Park in Cross Lanes. Flames had completely engulfed the house and almost spread to the neighboring home. Firefighters were able to prevent it spreading, so only the fence and siding were damaged. Pete Laton had lived in the house for about a year. He just got home from breakfast when the fire started. Laton said a homeless person he was letting live in the garage came running out screaming there was a fire. "I guess their air conditioner caught on fire," Laton said. "The garage is on fire, and you snap your finger and it went from there to here and this is what you see." Laton was thankful for firefighters who prevented the house from completely burning to the ground.