A fire destroyed a home on Mercer Street in Butler, Monday afternoon. No people were injured, but several pets died.

Several pets died in a house fire on Mercer Street in Butler on Monday afternoon.

The tenants of the unit were not home when the fire started, but one dog, two cats and a small reptile perished in the fire, according to Butler Fire Department chief Christopher Switala.

Switala said the fire started on the first floor, and was possibly caused by a heat lamp used by the reptile. Dispatch received the call at approximately 2:47 p.m., and Butler Township Fire Department, Butler City Police, Butler Ambulance and Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene by about 2:50 p.m.

When they arrived, responders saw flames burning the first floor and the flames extended out over the front porch, according to Switala.

Firefighters had the fire under control in about 30 minutes, but the first floor of the house was significantly damaged and the second floor had some moderate smoke damage, Switala said. Responders cleared the scene at 4:39 p.m.