LOCKPORT, N.Y. — Two cats died in a house fire Saturday evening in the City of Lockport.
The fire began sometime around 6:30 p.m. Saturday in a Passaic Avenue duplex, after a tenant who had just returned home noticed smoke coming from the front door.
Lockport Fire Department crews made their way into the residence and attempted to find the source of the fire. No fire was found, but two electric stovetop burners were glowing bright orange on the first floor.
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Making their way to the second floor, firefighters found two cats who were unconscious and got them out of the home. Both cats died of smoke inhalation despite efforts to revive them.
All of the fire damage was contained to the kitchen, where three overhead cabinets had burned but extinguished themselves. Severe smoke damage was spread throughout the residence.
The two people who lived in the residence were not home at the time of the fire.
Department officials believe the cause of the fire to be accidental.
"Investigators believe the stove top burners were accidentally engaged, and nearby paper products on the adjacent countertop caught fire and spread to the underside of the kitchen cabinets," the Lockport Fire Department said in a statement.
"Due to the construction and relatively new age of the building, it was very well sealed and did allow external air to enter and stunted the fire's growth."
There were working smoke detectors on the first and second floors and in the basement.
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