3 animals survive Selden house fire

At least eight animals died Wednesday in a Selden house fire, a Selden Fire Department spokesman said, but three others survived.

Peter Reimann, second assistant chief of the Selden department, said Thursday one cat and two dogs survived the blaze at a Washington Heights Street home, and the resident of the house, a woman in her late 40s, was treated for smoke inhalation and a minor foot injury.

Firefighters responded to the fire, which mostly was in the kitchen area, about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday and found at least 11 animals in the home, Reimann said.

"We think there might have been more animals, because there were carcasses in the home, but I can't tell you the breakdown exactly," Reimann said.

The fire does not appear to be suspicious, Reimann said, but is being investigated by the Town of Brookhaven fire marshal.

A spokeswoman for the fire marshal said Thursday that the investigation is ongoing.

Reimann said four animals were treated with oxygen at the scene using a funnel-shaped animal-rescue mask. The mask fits like a muzzle over the snout, he said, allowing oxygen to be pumped into the airway.

Three of the treated animals survived. The fourth, a dog, could not be revived, Reimann said.

At least eight animals overall perished in the fire, he said.

"When we got to the fire, a woman was outside and said her animals were inside," Reimann said. "She kept saying, 'My animals, my animals.' "

Reimann said the four animals that were treated were found immediately, when firefighters opened a door to the home.

The others never came out, he said. "Usually, pets come out on their own, but these never did."