Submitted Photo An electrical fire Tuesday, Nov. 4, severely damaged a house in northeast Surrey. No people were injured but three dogs died.

SURREY – A house fire in Surrey destroyed a home and caused the death of three dogs Tuesday, Nov. 4, according to the Surrey Fire Department.

Surrey Fire Chief Jordan Mauro said an electrical fire from an extension cord that ignited patio furniture was determined to be the cause of the fire. An on-duty Surrey police officer spotted the fire from across town, investigated and called for the fire department at 12:05 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find the house fully engulfed in flames, Mauro said.

Surrey firefighters were on scene for about 5½ hours, assisted by Minot Rural and Burlington departments. The house was a complete loss, but no people were injured. The homeowners were not home at the time. The family immediately was able to attain assistance, including a place to stay, Mauro said.

Firefighters worked to protect two nearby homes from heat exposure, with only minor burn damage on the eave of one of the houses.

The fire had spread unusually quickly in the home where it started, Mauro said.

“Everybody likes to use extension cords as permanent use, and that’s not what they are designed or intended for. They are a temporary – while you are using the item – power source. Once you are done with it, you put it away,” he said. “The biggest issue with an extension cord is they overheat, and because of the way extension cords are able to hold power, they don’t trip breakers. Before you know it, that extension cord will overheat.”