SANTEE. Calif. (KGTV) - Two dogs have died after a fire broke out in an East County home.
The fire broke out at a home on Big Rock Road and Rancho Fanita Drive just before 2 p.m. Wednesday. The fire started in the home's kitchen, according to Santee Fire Department crews.
Neighbors said they first saw smoke and though the fire was in a large field behind the home, before realizing it was in a corner of the house.
One neighbor reportedly ran over and called the home's owner, who was not home but told the neighbor her dogs were inside. The neighbor broke a window out and tried to get into the home to save the dogs but was pushed back because of the thick smoke.
Santee Fire arrived and broke into the back of the home to put out the blaze. Crews found the dogs and performed CPR and gave them oxygen but they had already died.
Crews said the neighbor was right not to enter the home if the smoke was as bad as described. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The owner of the home reportedly lives there with her daughter and son-in-law.
