WALLINGFORD - A 63-year-old man escaped a blaze in his Church Street home early Tuesday morning but flames did $100,000 to the house before firefighters from six towns were able to douse the fire.

Vermont State Police Detective Sgt. Michael Manley said Tuesday that Robert Moritz awoke just before 5 a.m. to the sound of popping and the smell of smoke in his home at 331 Church St. Moritz, who had smoke detectors in his home that didn't work, told police that he was able to flee from the house uninjured.

When firefighters arrived, they found the kitchen area fully engulfed in flames.

With the help of firecrews from Clarendon, East Wallingford, Tinmouth, Danby and East Dorset, the fire was put out before the house was completly consumed, Manley said.

A state police investigation into the cause of the blaze determined the fire was accidental and was caused by faulty venting of a pellet stove.

Police and state fire safety officials are reminding the public to check their smoke alarms to ensure they are in working order.