BURLINGTON, N.C. — One person and a dog are dead, and another was rushed to the hospital with burn injuries after a house fire Monday night, according to the Burlington Fire Department.
Fire officials believed "improperly discarded smoking materials" was the cause of the fire.
It happened around 8:45 p.m. at a house on Hood Street.
Firefighters quickly located one victim inside the home, who was pronounced dead on the scene.
Another victim was located who had attempted to go into the fire to find the first victim and received substantial burns to his extremities.
Alamance County EMS transported the second victim to a local hospital for treatment. The second victim is in critical condition at UNC Medical Center.
It took firefighters approximately 20 minutes to ensure the fire was under control. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The house was a total loss as it was completely destroyed by the intense heat of the fire.
Investigators said smoke alarms inside the home were not working.
Fire crews are still investigating.