The Harwich Fire Department responded to 747 Queen Anne Road for a reported structure fire Friday evening.
Harwich Fire received a call at approximately 5:46, and an off duty firefighter was the first to arrive and reported heavy fire in the rear of the building with heavy smoke coming from the attic.
Crews arrived on scene and the fire was knocked down in about 20 minutes; searches of the building verified that no one was home.
The home sustained significant damage to the exterior and attic space; the fire appeared to have started in the area of the outside shower.
While still undetermined at this time, fires like these are often caused by a mirror located in the outside shower: the lower angle of the sun, combined with the warm dry weather creates the perfect conditions for a fire to start.
The Harwich Fire Department is still the investigating the exact cause of the fire, but homeowners with mirrors in their showers are advised to make sure they are not in a position to reflect onto any wooden surfaces.