BUFFALO TWP — A fire destroyed a house and left four dogs dead around 11:45 a.m. Thursday at 404 Bear Creek Road.

Homeowner Nancy Hill and her son, Jeffrey Hill Jr. were not home at the time of the fire. The dogs were trapped inside the house during the blaze. There were no other injuries.

John Payne, the Hills’ neighbor from across the street, noticed the fire and ran inside to tell his wife, Clovia. She looked out her doorway and saw the flames.

“We figured it started in the kitchen on fire first, and just got bigger and bigger,” she said.

Another neighbor called 911, and Clovia Payne alerted Nancy Hill.

The fire spread quickly; when firefighters arrived the fire was fully involved.

“There was smoke coming out of all corners,” said Buffalo Township lieutenant Kip Johnson.

Firefighters took about 30 minutes to extinguish most of the fire using water. A hose attached to a ladder was used to extinguish flames on the roof.

With the house destroyed, Johnson said the firefighters were in a “defensive” mode to keep it from spreading to neighboring houses.

“We do everything we can,” he said.

Volunteer fire departments from Buffalo Township, Sarver, Winfield Township, Saxonburg, Herman and Harrison Hills (Allegheny County) responded to the fire. Saxonburg EMS also was on scene.