Investigators said the cause for a fire that destroyed an Auburn family's home at 28 Delevan St. may not be discovered until the end of the week.

The fire, which started around 5 p.m. Sunday, was bursting out the second story windows of Melissa Colon and Cordell Smith's home when the Auburn Fire Department arrived. Assistant Fire Chief Marty Corcoran said firefighters were able to put the fire out quickly, but because of the design of the building, the fire had rapidly spread to other parts of the house before fire crews arrived.

Corcoran said no one was in the house when the fire started.

Colon and Smith had left their house to take their three children to the Booker T. Washington Community Center and found their home on fire when they returned less than five minutes later, the couple said.

"They lost everything," Gary Mann, the director of emergency services for the Cayuga County Red Cross said. "It doesn't look like they have anything left and the house is a total loss."

With no place to stay, Mann said the Red Cross and the county Department of Social Services were going to put the family in a hotel until at least Friday. The family will also receive help finding a new apartment and help with their first month of rent as they attempt to recover from their loss.

The Red Cross was also going to help the family get food, winter clothing, bed linens and storage containers to put their new stuff in as they attempt to rebuild their lives, Mann said.

"They should be OK," Mann said. "We are going to get them all the help they need."