Two New York firefighters were injured, and crews rescued multiple pets after a car fire spread to two nearby homes early Tuesday, gutting one of the houses and seriously damaging the other.
Initially, crews were called to a residential address over reports of gunfire, WHEC-TV reports. But when firefighters arrived at the scene, they found a burning car in a driveway and saw flames spreading to two nearby homes. There was no evidence of gun play, and officials believe the car's exploding tires might have created a similar sound to gunshots.
The fire tore through the attic of a two-family house, and firefighters tried to put out the flames with an interior attack, but dangerous conditions forced them to pull back, according to Deputy Chief Jim Ryan. The amount of damage the house sustained likely will force it to be demolished, he added.
Flames caused severe damage to the outside of a neighboring home, and it's currently unsafe to stay in. The car where the fire originated—which was parked between the two homes—also sustained serious damage.
Two firefighters were injured battling the fire. They were taken to the hospital with injuries that weren't considered life-threatening before being released.
Four adults and five children who were home at the time of the fire were able to safely escape the flames.
Crews also were able to save a handful of pets trapped by the fire. Several animals were rescued from the second floor of one of the homes, as well as four dogs were that were still in a backyard area.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
