A midafternoon house fire on the 9000 block of 9th St. SW in Lehigh Acres on Christmas Day claimed the life of one of a family’s four dogs as the homeowners tried to pull their pets from the burning single-family home, officials said.

The blaze was reported at about 2:25 p.m., according to local authorities. The couple and their two children were away from the residence when the fire began and only realized something was wrong while returning home. “They noticed smoke as they were driving home, and when they checked their security cameras and found them offline, they knew something was wrong,” the husband told reporters.

Arriving at the scene, the couple forced entry by breaking a window and were able to remove three of their dogs from the house, officials said. One of the animals became frightened and hid inside the structure; that dog was later found to have died in the fire. Emergency responders extinguished the blaze after the family’s arrival.

The wife sustained significant cuts during the rescue attempt and was taken to a local hospital, where she was listed in stable condition. Investigators and emergency personnel remained at the scene after firefighters extinguished flames, while neighbors and relatives assisted the family in the immediate aftermath.

The loss left the family grieving on a holiday intended for celebration. The couple and their children returned to a damaged home after trying to save their pets; officials said local agencies and community members were helping with immediate needs. The American Red Cross is coordinating temporary housing for the household as they recover and make arrangements following the blaze.

Authorities confirmed the basic timeline of the incident centered on the midafternoon alarm at roughly 2:25 p.m. Christmas Day. Fire investigators handled the scene and worked to determine the cause of the fire; officials did not release an official determination at the time of reporting.

Holiday-season fires are most commonly linked to cooking and heating equipment, experts say. Cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires and tends to peak on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, while heating equipment accounts for a significant share of winter fires — about 13 percent — with nearly half of heating-related fires occurring from December through February. Nationwide figures put cooking-related home fires at roughly 44 to 49 percent of reported home structure fires, underscoring how frequently accidents in the kitchen trigger residential blazes.

The couple’s account underscored how quickly such incidents can unfold and how urgent decisions are when a home is visibly on fire. Pet owners can reduce some risks by pet-proofing homes against known fire hazards — for example, by covering stove knobs, keeping candles, matches, lighters and electrical cords out of reach, using flameless candles, and avoiding leaving pets unattended near fireplaces, space heaters or open flames — measures that animal welfare and fire-safety organizations commonly recommend.

Neighbors described a scene of hurried rescue and community support as relatives and local residents offered assistance. Officials asked that any additional information about the cause or circumstances be directed to the investigating agency managing the scene. In the meantime, the family is displaced and receiving aid while coping with the emotional and material fallout from the Christmas Day fire.

Reporting on the incident was first published by Fox4Now.

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Original reporting: view the original article.