WYOMISSING, Pa. – A fire that tore through a Wyomissing home killed three pets, officials say.
It happened on Edgedale Court, with firefighters battling the blaze just before midnight on Saturday through the early morning hours on Sunday.
The Pennsylvania State Police said a neighbor called in the fire, but it already spread in the back of the house when firefighters arrived.
Firefighters were initially able to enter the house to search for occupants but were forced to back out as the fire became more intense. According to authorities, no residents were home at the time, but one dog and two cats did not survive.
Crews used hoses to fight the fire until conditions improved and they were able to reenter the house, state police said. The fire was brought under control within an hour, but fire crews remained on scene until around 3 a.m. to conduct overhaul and extinguish hot spots.
The Wyomissing fire chief reported that no civilians or firefighters were injured.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but the state police fire marshal said it is not criminal in nature. Investigators have determined the fire originated in a room in the back of the first floor.
The home is a total loss, with damages estimated to be in excess of $400,000, state police said.