An Atmore family’s pets escaped death this afternoon (Friday, Aug. 29) when city firefighters rescued them from their smoke-filled and burning “family” home.

Atmore Frie Department reports show that city firemen were sent around 1:20 p.m. to a burning home at the intersection of 4th Avenue and East Horner Street.

Smoke was pouring from the windows, and the interior of the home was filled with choking smoke when firefighters arrived.

The occupants of the home were away, but a virtual menagerie of cats, dogs, rabbits, turtles, caged birds and other animals was inside. They were taken out of the smoke-filled structure by firemen, reportedly without serious harm to any of the animals.

The fire breached the home’s attic, and after knocking down the flames, AFD personnel used exhaust fans to pull the smoke from the home. A small fire was later detected in the attic, and firefighters took care of it quickly.

The home’s interior, mainly one room, sustained heavy smoke damage, but was not otherwise seriously damaged.

The cause of the fire had not been determined by Friday evening.

Poarch Creek Indians Fire Department assisted with the fire-suppression effort.