NEW MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla. --

Fire torched a $1.5 million beachside home Wednesday morning that was being remodeled by Hialeah District Fire Chief John Phillips.

The pre-dawn blaze heavily damaged the three-story structure that Phillips and his wife, Julie, bought in 2005 as a fix-up project, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.

Phillips said he had gotten up early in order to go to The Home Depot to buy tarps, as it was beginning to rain outside and he wanted to cover an addition. He said he turned on the dryer and started to make coffee when the smoke alarm went off. He said the then spotted smoke coming out of the air-conditioning vents.

He got his wife and their four tan pugs -- Chopsticks, Zack, Yogi and Lola -- and ran out of the house. He went back in for jewelry and other valuables before Brevard County and Melbourne Beach firefighters arrived.

"We're OK," he said.

Phillips said the fire could have started from electrical wiring or lint in the dryer. But he will have to depend on other fire officials to determine that.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.