LUGOFF, SC (WACH) - Firefighters were able to rescue a family pet from a home that was engulfed in flames last Saturday night.

Chief Dennis Ray with the Lugoff Fire Department says firefighters responded to a house fire on North Village Lane around 9 p.m. last Saturday. The crew searched the home using thermal imaging cameras and confirmed no one was inside. They then rescued the family's long-time pet Beagle who was given to the homeowners when they returned.

“Fires like these are really unfortunate when the owners are not home and neighbors call the fire in. In most cases, by the time folks see a home on fire, the fire has been burning a while. This makes it really hard for our firefighters to stop the fire damage and makes for a very dangerous operation to our crews. There were no injuries and all of our firefighters did a great job getting the large amount of fire under control as quickly as they did” Lugoff Fire Chief Dennis Ray stated.

According to the department, the origin of the fire was from the rear of the home near the back deck. Crews spent two hours extinguishing hot spots, and left the scene around midnight.

Ray said crews were able to stop the fire in the attic and roof areas, but there was extensive damage to the rest of the home.

The incident remains under investigation.