More than 50 firefighters from four stations were called in Monday afternoon when a house caught fire east of Waterloo.

Someone passing by the house, on Durant Road near Bloomingdale, called 911 shortly after noon Monday after seeing flames and smoke.

The smoke billowing from the house quickly expanded to the point where it could be seen from kilometres away.

“When we left the hall, we saw the smoke visible,” Maryhill Fire Capt. Gary Auger tells CTV News.

In addition to Maryhill, crews from St. Jacobs, Breslau and Conestogo were brought in to battle the flames.

Hampering their efforts was the home’s steel roof, which contained the fire and prevented firefighters from attacking from above.

“Steel roofs always create a bit of a challenge for us,” says Auger.

Nobody was home at the time of the fire, but three cats are believed to have died.

Information on a cause and damage estimate was not immediately available, but officials say the fire is not believed to be suspicious.