Five dogs die in North Richmond fire

Five dogs died in a residential structure fire Monday evening in North Richmond, an unincorporated community in Contra Costa County, according to firefighters.

The incident was reported at 6:57 p.m. Monday in the 500 block of Grove Avenue, fire officials said. Responding firefighters found the residence fully engulfed, and a vehicle stored in the side yard was also burning. Nearby power lines that burned down were blocking the street, according to firefighters.

Personnel on scene noticed that a home next door had begun to catch fire. While they were working to prevent the fire from spreading further into the neighboring structure, firefighters found the dogs in kennels deceased on the side of the home where the blaze originated, fire officials said.

The blaze was under control around 7:30 p.m., a Contra Costa County Fire Protection District dispatcher said. Contra Costa County Animal Services officers responded to assist with the dogs, and PG&E was on scene to address the downed power lines, according to fire officials.

No one was inside the home at the time of the fire and the American Red Cross was called to assist displaced residents, fire crews said. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.