A structure fire in Allegany County on Saturday hurt a firefighter and led to the deaths or disappearances of more than a dozen animals, according to the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal.
The structure fire in Westernport occurred at 3:22 a.m. and took 30 minutes to control, the office said in a Monday notice. First discovered by a resident, the fire originated in the living room on the first floor of the two-story, single-family home.
One firefighter suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries, and 15 dogs and three cats died or are missing.
The house sustained an estimated $225,000 in damages.
Seventy-five firefighters responded to the two-alarm fire, with Potomac Fire Company #2 being the primary department.
The family of residents is being assisted by the American Red Cross. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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