DeKalb County firefighters responded to a house fire last week that destroyed a family home and claimed several pets.

On Friday, December 16, at approximately 3:38 p.m., E-911 dispatcher received a call reporting a house fire at 1576 Vandergriff Hollow Road in Dowelltown. A passing school bus had noticed the blaze and the driver contacted 911.

The owner of the home, Anne White, reported that she had left the house to go to Food Lion and remembered passing the school bus on her way home.

Main Station Engine 59, Cookeville Highway Engine 61, Liberty Engine 65, Temperance Hall Engine 67, Tanker 1, a unit with DeKalb EMS, and deputies with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene.

Upon arrival fire crews found the home totally engulfed in flames. Firefighters worked to contain the blaze to keep it from spreading, but the home and all of its contents were a total loss.

White reported that among all of her pets inside the house, she was able to rescue only one cat from a window of the home. All the other dogs and cats inside perished in the fire.