WORCESTER - Cold was the challenge as firefighters battled a two-alarm fire in a house at 243 Canterbury St. in near zero-degree weather Sunday morning.

Deputy Fire Chief John Sullivan said firefighters had to go from hydrant to hydrant to find one that was not too frozen to work, finally having success on the third try.

No injuries were reported in the blaze, which was called in shortly before 9 a.m. One person was in the house and got out safely, Deputy Chief Sullivan said. He said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The single-family home is owned by Carmen R. Perez, according to assessors' records.

"It was pretty well going when we got here," Deputy Chief Sullivan said. "Frozen hydrants put us a little behind the eight ball a little. Two hydrants were frozen. We went from hydrant to hydrant till we found one that worked."

The temperature as Deputy Chief Sullivan spoke was 3 degrees. Water from the hydrant and hoses was starting to freeze on the street at Bourke Square. A firefighter was asked what it was like tackling a fire in these conditions. "Not fun," she said.

But the outcome could have been worse, Deputy Chief Sullivan said. "Any loss for the occupant is terrible," he said. "But you can replace a house and you can replace the contents - as long as no one is hurt."