Two Cortez residents narrowly escaped a house fire at 311 North Henry St. early Wednesday morning.
Two bulldogs and two cats died as a result of the fire, and a Chihuahua was resuscitated by firefighters.
No other injuries were reported.
“The residents only had enough time to escape in what they were sleeping in,” said Jeff Vandevoorde, Cortez fire chief.
When firefighters arrived just after midnight Tuesday, the back of the one-story house was engulfed in flames and heavy smoke.
The fire spread to the attic, and flames were breaking through the roof.
Vandevoorde said 17 firefighters from Cortez, Mancos and Dolores fire departments knocked down the fire within 45 minutes. Mop-up operations continued for several hours.
No other homes or structures were damaged, Vandevoorde said.
Firefighters removed a bulldog and Chihuahua from the burning house. Oxygen was administered to both pets, but only the Chihuahua was revived.
The identify of the residents was not released. Victim assistance is being provided by the Cortez Police Department.
Cortez fire crews are investigating the cause of the fire.
