Three animals were killed in a house fire in Gainesville on Saturday afternoon that may have been caused by an unattended candle. The occupants, who were not in the home at the time of the fire, were displaced but not injured, according to a GFR release.
GFR responded to reports of a house fire at 1415 SE First St., at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and found black smoke seeping from the front door of the house and drenched that area of home immediately, successfully putting out the fire, the report said.
A search of the house located three animals killed as a result of the fire — two cats and one dog.
Firefighters said in the release that the fire seemed to have started in the master bedroom of the home.
Though the cause of the fire is still under investigation, the homeowner told firefighters he thought the fire was started by a candle that was left aflame and possibly knocked down by one of the now deceased pets.
Red Cross was contacted in order to assist the family, which was displaced due to the fire, with living arrangements.