Family pets perish in house fire in Hanover Park

Two cats and a dog died Tuesday afternoon in a house fire on the west side of Hanover Park, authorities said.

Hanover Park Fire Battalion Chief Daniel Nicholson said the home on the 6000 block of Hemlock Street was rendered uninhabitable by the fire, which is believed to have started near an electrical outlet in the basement.

Nicholson said the fire was reported by a person who happened to be driving by. He said fire crews found a heavy volume of fire when they arrived on the scene around 12:23 p.m. After fighting the fire for around 20 minutes, firefighters declared the blaze under control.

Nicholson said the family who lives in the house was not at home when the fire started, but their pets were. No firefighters were hurt putting out the blaze.

He said the fire remains under investigation.