MADISON — A couple and several children were displaced Friday night when a fire caused extensive damage to their home at 24 Rowell St. in Madison, a fire official said.

Chief Don French of the Madison Fire Department said Saturday morning he had called the Office of State Fire Marshal to the scene, and it was determined the fire’s cause was a wiring malfunction at the older, two-story house, which is insured.

“The fire was hard to get to,” French said. “The inside has heavy, heavy water damage, and the second floor, they had to rip down the ceiling and there was a lot of fire damage in the attic.”

French said one of the wood-frame home’s occupants was knitting and smelled smoke, and when she opened a closet, heavy smoke poured out. Her husband went upstairs, where there was fire, and he then came down to turn off the breaker.

The couple have six children living at the house, but only two were home at the time, according to French, who was at the scene.

“The whole residence is heavy, heavy water damage and smoke,” French said.

About 30 firefighters from Madison, Anson, Athens, Norridgewock, Skowhegan, Solon and Starks responded, as did the Skowhegan Fire Department’s Rapid Intervention Team, French said.

He said the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office was the first to respond to the scene, and Madison Electric also responded.

Firefighters remained at the scene until about 11:30 p.m. Friday, according to French, who said he called the American Red Cross to assist the family.

“There’s so much water and smoke damage, I wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t back in there for months,” he said.

French said crews used tarps to cover many of the family’s belongings on the first floor to try to minimize the damage.

“They had to rip off some of the roof to get at it, so there’s a lot of damage in the home,” French said.

Rowell Street is off Weston Avenue, about a half-mile from the fire station.