A portable kerosene heater was the cause of a mobile home fire this afternoon on the Onondaga Nation, nation Fire Chief Ron Shenandoah said.

Shenandoah said his niece, Sachane Shenandoah, and her three children, ages 2, 4 and 11, lived in the Martins Lane home. Ron Shenandoah said he does not know whether anyone was home when the fire started, but no one was injured.

A portable kerosene heater ignited part of the floor, Shenandoah said. The fire spread from the floor to a wall.

The home is uninhabitable because of the smoke, the chief said. But after it's cleaned up, he believes the family will be able to return home.

In the meantime, the American Red Cross is assisting the family.

This was the second fire that Onondaga Nation firefighters battled today. Shortly after midnight, they assisted with a fire in LaFayette, Shenandoah said.