An early Saturday morning blaze destroyed the home of an elderly Scarborough couple.

Fire crews from Scarborough and Saco fought the blaze at the home of Ronald and Deborah Palmer on 6 Herbert Drive, said Scarborough Fire Chief Michael Thurlow.

The fire totaled the house, Thurlow said.

The fire was related to the woodstove that the couple was using to heat the home after losing power from the ice storm. Ronald Palmer came downstairs to refill the stove at 3:55 a.m. on Saturday, heard crackling coming from inside the wall and found the wall hot to touch, Thurlow said.

The couple escaped unharmed and called 911.

“They were very lucky he was up,” Thurlow said.