Cincinnatus House Fire Leaves Pets Dead

Officials are investigating the cause of a fire in Cortland County that heavily damaged a house on and left a dog and several cats dead.

Firefighters were called around 2 p.m. September 12 to the home on Telephone Road in Cincinnatus with a report of a possible explosion along with the fire.

The residents were not home at the time and firefighters had the blaze out in less than an hour.

The pets in the home are believed to have died of smoke inhalation since they were not found in the part of the house in which the fire was contained.

Authorities have not said if they have determined whether there actually was an explosion.

None of the firefighters on the scene was injured.