ROCKLAND, Mass. — A person was found dead inside a burning single-family house in Rockland early Monday, Oct. 26, Boston 25 News and WHDH 7News reported.

Rockland Fire Chief Scott Duffey said the victim was alone in the home and the rest of the family was away, according to Boston 25. "At the time of the fire, the victim who had passed was the sole occupant. The rest of the family was not in the house," he said. The person's name has not been released.

What started the fire has not been reported. Boston 25 said the State Fire Marshal's Office has investigators trying to pin down the cause.

Duffey's account, as Boston 25 relayed it, describes a fire that escalated quickly. The call came in around 3:30 a.m. When the first engines pulled up to the two-and-a-half-story house on Centre Avenue, the fire was burning hardest at its rear. Then calls began saying several people were trapped, and that word brought a third alarm, the chief said.

Only Boston 25 described the fire in terms of alarms. WHDH said thick smoke was billowing off the roof and that crews from several departments came in to help. The station also reported that fire officials confirmed the death.

No firefighters were hurt, Duffey said, according to Boston 25.

"This was a horrible call," the chief said.

He added: "It’s the worst thing that could happen to a family."