An attic fire that heavily damaged a Swifts Beach home on Monday, Oct. 24 was caused by the sun, according to the Wareham Fire Department.

The fire started in the attic of a two-story home, located at 20 Barnes St., just before 5 p.m. Capt. Mark Rogers said it appeared that a piece of glass or a mirror focused the sun's rays onto a window sill, which then caught fire.

"It was purely accidental...I've heard about things like this happening, but during my career this is the first time I've seen it," said Rogers, who joined the Wareham Fire Department in 1977.

Rogers said no one was home during the fire.

Swifts Beach resident Raymie Farrell said the owner is a longtime summer resident. She added the damage was upsetting.

“The person who owns the house has had it for 50 years. This is sad. It’s so unbelievably sad," said Farrell. "We’re a close knit community.”

Rogers said 15 firefighters were on the scene and five were placed on standby during the incident.

Wareham Police closed the street to traffic so firefighters could run hoses to the home.

Wareham and Onset fire crews both responded. Onset’s ladder truck was used to access an attic window that faces Barnes Street. Wareham EMS was at the scene, too.