A turn-of-the-century home in the center of Mount Airy was extensively damaged in a fire that began near a wood stove yesterday morning.
Assistant Fire Chief Doug Alexander said the blaze in the 200 block of Hotel St. was discovered about 8:40 a.m. It started near the wood stove in the first-floor living room and burned through the floor and ceiling, and inside the wall to the second floor and into the attic, he said.
Chief Alexander said the occupants had left the house for work before the fire and that no one was injured. A pet cat was found dead in the house after the blaze, and a pet dog suffered smoke inhalation.
About 40 firefighters and 12 pieces of equipment from Mount Airy, Lisbon, New Market and Damascus were dispatched to the blaze. They remained at the site until 11:35 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation by a state fire marshal.