CAPE ELIZABETH — An Ocean House Road home engulfed by flames early Tuesday morning is a “total loss,” according to Fire Chief Peter Gleeson.

The fire was reported by a neighbor just before 3 a.m. Gleeson said no one was in the home at 51 Ocean House Road when the fire broke out and the owner, who is on vacation, has been notified.

One firefighter injured his hand and was sent to Maine Medical Center in Portland for treatment.

According to the town’s tax records, the single-family home is owned by Lauren Long. The property is assessed at $352,500, including $239,600 for the building’s value.

Gleeson said it took crews from South Portland, Scarborough, Portland and Cape Elizabeth about two hours to get the fire under control.

The source of the fire was under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office, but Gleeson said due to the damage, it may remain unknown.

“The house is completely destroyed,” Gleeson said. “We might never know the cause.”

Ocean House Road, also known as Route 77, was closed for several hours before being reopened to one lane of traffic around 7 a.m.

Fire marshals were on the scene at 9 a.m. taking photos of the home’s remains and speaking with Code Enforcement Officer Ben McDougal, who said the structure was still unsafe for crews to enter.

“We haven’t had a fire this bad in town in a long time,” McDougal said.

Jocelyn Van Saun can be reached at 781-3661, ext. 183 or jvansaun@theforecaster.net. Follow her on Twitter @JocelynVanSaun.

Fire crews at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning were still on the scene of a house fire that broke out six hours earlier at 51 Ocean House Road in Cape Elizabeth. The state fire marshal’s office was assisting with the investigation, but the remaining structure was not safe for crews to enter.

The fire was reported by a neighbor just before 3 a.m. on April 10. Ocean House Road (Route 77) was closed for several hours while crews from Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, South Portland and Portland fought the fire.