Firefighters suspect unattended candles were the cause of a four-alarm fire that destroyed a home about 20 minutes east of Ottawa on Wednesday.

A young couple with two children managed to escape the flames when a school bus driver alerted them to the fire after spotting flames coming from the family's garage on Calypso Street near a water park in Limoges.

The blaze spread quickly, gutting the home and causing an estimated $350,000 in damage.

The family managed to escape unharmed.

Firefighters from Limoges, Embrun, Casselman and Russell were called to help put out the blaze.

The couple, who got married last week, has insurance. However, neighbours have started collecting money in the event there is a delay with the insurance coverage.