Three pets found dead in Elgin house fire

Two dogs and a cat were found dead after a fire Saturday afternoon in a two-story Elgin home, officials said.

The residents of the home on the 900 block of Ripple Brook Lane were attending a funeral at the time of the blaze, Elgin Battalion Chief Tim Michaels said.

"That's the tragedy of it," Michaels said. "It was quite emotional for everyone on the scene."

The fire caused about $40,000 in damage and left the house uninhabitable, Michaels said.

A neighbor saw smoke from the home and called 911 about noon.

Elgin crews found on arriving a blaze in the first-floor kitchen, Michaels said.

Firefighters discovered the deceased cat in the first-floor living room, and the two dogs on the second floor.

Investigators are "pretty confident" a malfunctioning microwave started the fire, Michaels said.

Crews put out the blaze within minutes.