A rural Imperial house was destroyed by a Thursday afternoon fire.

The fire was reported early Thursday afternoon on Worthington Road just east of Austin. Imperial County Fire Department responded as did fire departments from all over the Valley. It was over an hour before the fire was declared contained. Residents of the house were able to escape unharmed. The Red Cross is assisting them. Three other houses were evacuated as a precaution. Worthington Road was closed in that area for several hours.