Firefighters rescue cat, dog from Belmont blaze

Firefighters in Belmont on Friday rescued a dog and a cat from a residential structure fire on Friday.

Firefighters responded at 2:45 p.m. to a one-alarm residential structure fire in the 1600 block of Notre Dame Avenue.

Arriving firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the garage area of the residence. There was also a live electrical wire that fell during the fire, which caused PG&E crews to respond and shut off the power to the residence.

Crews brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes and were able to confine the fire to the garage area. Other areas of the residence sustained smoke and water damage.

Firefighters learned the homeowners were at work, but there were two pets inside the residence.

A 10-year-old black Labrador Retriever was located scared but unhurt, and a 15-year-old cat was located suffering from smoke inhalation, according to firefighters.

The cat was given oxygen and transported to an emergency veterinary hospital by San Mateo County Animal Rescue and Control.

The fire caused an estimated $275,000 to the residence. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Neighbors reported hearing an explosion during the fire, and firefighters said the explosion may have been the tank of a motorcycle rupturing in the garage during the blaze.