A Banks County house fire claimed the life of a family pet on Monday afternoon.
Banks County Fire and Emergency Services crews were called to a reported structure fire on Deer Crest Drive in Baldwin, where they found a single-family residence showing heavy fire.
"An attack was made on the fire, and the fire was extinguished, containing it to the building of origin," Banks County Fire/EMS Chief Steve Nichols said in a press statement on Monday evening. "The cause of the fire was investigated by the Banks County Fire Department's Investigation Unit and was ruled accidental, with a clothes dryer in a rear room not being able to rule out as the cause."
Although no occupants were home at the time of the fire, Nichols said one animal was killed in the incident.
The home was said to be a total loss, with fire damage reported throughout the structure.
"The American Red Cross was called for assistance to the family along with One Eight Hundred Board Up Company," Nichols said.
The initial 911 call was received at 1:54 p.m., and the scene was cleared at 4:37 p.m.
