On Tuesday morning at approximately 8:46 a.m., DeKalb County firefighters were dispatched to 128 Nikki Lane, off Sparta Hwy in the Midway Community, for a residential structure fire.

Chief Donny Green says that upon arrival, firefighters found flames coming from the kitchen window and heavy smoke coming from the entire structure. The owner told firefighters that she had just left the house minutes before and returned to find smoke coming from her house and fire inside the kitchen window. She was able to open the front door allowing two of her dogs to escape. No other occupants were inside the home.

Firefighters quickly arrived and made entry to extinguish the fire and ventilate the smoke and heat from the home. The fire was quickly extinguished and contained to the kitchen, but the remainder of the home received extensive smoke and heat damage. Firefighters also found another dog inside the home that had apparently perished from smoke inhalation. Chief Green says that the fire originated in the kitchen, but the ignition source is undetermined at this time.

DeKalb County Fire Department’s Short Mountain Engine 62, Main Station Engine 59, Johnson’s Chapel Engine 68, and Four Seasons Engine 57 responded, along with members from other county stations. DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Emergency Medical Services also assisted at the scene.