Safe for the whole family, cats killed in house fire near Willow Springs

WILLOW SPRINGS, North Carolina — A firefighter was injured and pets lost their lives when a family home caught fire early Wednesday morning in Wake County.

A neighbor told WRAL News the family escaped unharmed, but said several of the family's cats died in the fire. This neighbor said he took a cat to the vet for the family and the animal is expected to survive.

Around 12:30 a.m., crews were called to a two-story house fire on Chimara Court in Willow Springs. The fire reached the second floor and attic, authorities said.

The residents, a dog and the cat were able to escape from the house before firefighters arrived, according to a spokesperson for the town of Fuquay-Varina. Authorities said three cats were missing.

A firefighter suffered minor shoulder burns. The firefighter was treated at the scene and returned to duty, authorities said.

WRAL News has learned the fire may have started on the home's patio. The Fuquay-Varina Fire Department is leading the investigation, authorities said.

The Fairview and Garner Fire Departments in Wake County, the Angier-Black River Fire Department in Harnett County and the Johnston County Fire Department 50-210 all contributed to the intervention.

WRAL News is working to find out the cause of the fire.