GRAFTON - A dog and a cat died Sunday in a three-alarm fire that damaged an antique wooden farmhouse at 147 Worcester St. (Route 140).

No one was home at the time of the fire, which was reported around 11 a.m., according Grafton Fire Chief Michael Gauthier. He said three cats and one dog had been inside, and two of the pets died.

The home is owned by Richard and Jean Mitchell and Christina Qualey, according to assessors' records. Mrs. Qualey's husband, Stephen, is a retired Shrewsbury firefighter, according to Chief Gauthier.

The temperature was 10 degrees as firefighters from several area communities fought the smoky blaze, which started in the rear of the two-and-a-half-story building.

Firefighters had to dig out a hydrant. "When you get frigid conditions it makes it hard on the firefighters," Chief Gauthier said.

Said Grafton Firefighter Brian McCann: "It's horrible in this weather."

The chief said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Firefighters from Grafton, Upton, Sutton, Millbury and Westboro responded to the scene of the fire, while Hopedale and Shrewsbury fire departments covered the Grafton firehouse, according to Upton Fire Chief Aaron Goodale.