Two people safely escaped their home as it went up in flames early Christmas Day, but lost one of their pets in the fast-moving fire, Oceanside Fire Department officials told NBC 7.
The fire happened at approximately 10:30 a.m. Friday on the 600 block of Ann Street near the water heater in the garage, the OFD Fire Battalion Chief said.
The two adults tried to find something to put out the fire, but could not stop it. The fire quickly spread from the garage into the kitchen.
When they went back into their home to try to find their three cats at the same time about 28 firefighters mostly from the OFD arrived on scene. One unit from the Vista Fire Department and Camp Pendleton Fire Department also responded.
One officer went into the building to try to find the three cats left behind, but by the time he found the cats, one had died. The two others were found alive.
It took roughly 30 minutes to put out the fire, firefighters said, and flames could be seen rising high above the structure.
No further information was immediately available.
