A home in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley has been badly damaged by fire.

Fire crews responded to the home on Bloomington Road in Nictaux Falls, near Middleton, around 4:30 p.m. Monday.

It took five fire departments five hours to control the blaze.

Fire officials say the homeowner and his cat escaped without injury.

The fire started the same day the Annapolis Valley Fire Association started its new automatic aid system, which speeds up response times and immediately calls in multiple fire departments.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.