A towering column of smoke rising from an area just west of Cumming Monday afternoon marked the site of another home destroyed by fire.  

Firefighters responded to the home at 401 Samaritan Drive just after 3:00 p.m. Monda and found a one story brick home on fire, with flames shooting from the back of the house and the roof.

Investigators were initially concerned that the homeowner, who lived alone and could not be located, was inside the burning house.  They were visibly relieved to see the man walking up the street about an hour later. Officials say that a dog that belonged to the homeowner is believed to have died in the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.