Two dogs were killed in separate house fires on Saturday, one that destroyed a Maplewood home and garage and another that heavily damaged a home on Old Summerville Road, firefighters reported.

No one was injured in the fires.

Firefighters were called to a two-story home at 9 Laurchris Drive in Maplewood a little after 8 a.m. Saturday to find the home was already burning heavily and a garage destroyed.

“It had too good of a head start, and we did a good job of just containing it …,” said Capt. Steve Bailey, acting battalion chief with the Rome-Floyd Fire Department.

The homeowners were not at home at the time of the blaze. They had left their dog, which died in the fire, at home.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Bailey said.

The owners made their own accommodations for a place to stay.

Problems with the fire hydrant close to the house also prompted firefighters to use other hydrants around the neighborhood

The firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to neighboring houses and wooded areas, Bailey said.

Police officials had the intersection connecting Laurchris Drive with Valley Brook Drive blocked, and did not let anyone near the house

Later that afternoon, firefighters were called to a single family home at 2779 Old Summerville Road.

A child playing with a lighter caused that fire, which left the front of the house charred, according to Battalion Chief Phil Taylor.

While the parents and two children were able to get out, a dog died in the fire.

Taylor said that the family will be staying with a relative until they make their future living arrangements.

A portion of Old Summerville Road was blocked for at least an hour as firefighters battled and cleaned up after the fire.



Staff Writer Kim Sloan contributed to this report.