Two dogs dead, three homes damaged after large Albemarle house fire

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Two dogs are dead, multiple cats are unaccounted for and three homes are damaged after a large house fire in Albemarle County on Monday.

At about 4:50 p.m. on Monday, May 19, crews with Albemarle County Fire Rescue were called to the 2100 block of Loring Circle for report of a house fire.

An officer with the Albemarle County Police Department arrived at the scene first and found a single-family home fully engulfed in flames. According to fire officials, the fire had begun to spread to two nearby homes.

County firefighters were able to put out the fire by 6:15 p.m. on Monday with help from the Charlottesville Fire Department.

No residents were in the initial home when the fire started and no one was injured. However, two of their pet dogs died and multiple pet cats are still unaccounted for as of Monday night.

All residents of the initial home were displaced by the fire's damage, which left it a total loss. Though the neighboring two homes were damaged by the flames, no residents from those homes are displaced.

Adult, juvenile seriously hurt in large fire that destroyed Chesterfield home

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

"Albemarle County Fire Rescue would like to take this opportunity to remind the community to have working smoke alarms and know two ways out of your home," fire officials said. "Make and practice your escape plan with resources available [online here.]"