4 dogs, 1 chinchilla dead in northeast Calgary duplex fire

A stock photo showing the side of a Calgary Fire Department vehicle.

A family is out of their home and has lost most of their pets after a fire in northeast Calgary on Christmas Eve.

Shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the Calgary Fire Department was called regarding a two-storey duplex on fire on Whitewood Place N.E.

The fire department says the occupants of one side of the duplex returned home to find it ablaze.

Three people lived there; none were injured.

But four dogs and a chinchilla were inside at the time and did not make it out, the fire department says.

One dog did make it out.

It's believed the fire started in the kitchen, though the exact cause is under investigation.

The fire department says the one side of the duplex was significantly damaged.

The other side of the duplex did not suffer significant damage.

Fire crews remained on scene into the night to watch for and manage any hot spots.