At least 10 pets perish in house fire

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - Fire crews were able to save one cat from a house full of animals during a two-alarm fire Wednesday morning in Chesapeake.

Capt. Scott Saunders with the Chesapeake Fire Department said the first alarm went out at 8:49 a.m. for a fire in the 2200 block of Ardmore Avenue. When crews arrived on scene five minutes later, firefighters found heavy smoke showing from a two-story home and a second alarm went out at 8:57 a.m.

The fire was controlled at 9:15 a.m., however, Saunders said numerous animals were found dead, including three dogs, four cats, multiple ferrets, two birds and one iguana.

"When you come to these house fires, it's hard enough that the people lose their property, but to lose a pet which is part of their family... it's hard on them and it's just something that we don't  like to see," Saunders said.

Crews were able to rescue and resuscitate one cat.

Two adults and one child reside at the home, but were not there at the time of the fire, Saunders said. No other injuries were reported.

A cause for the fire has not yet been released.