A West Penn family was lucky to survive a fast-moving garage fire that claimed their attached ranch home and everything in it early Saturday morning.

Around 3:45 a.m., firefighters from surrounding fire departments converged on the property at 38 Apple Jack Lane, located off Roads End and Strauss Valley Road. Despite a rapid response from firefighters, the home was destroyed.Six people, consisting of homeowners Ron and Maggie Wehr, siblings Mary and Andrew Petritsch and two other family members, were asleep in the home when the fire started around 3:30. Daughter Mary Petritsch said she awoke and smelled smoke after hearing one of their dogs barking. She then looked down the hall into the garage and alerted family members of the fire.A Ford Expedition and a tractor were also destroyed in the fire.Responding were fire companies from West Penn, Mahoning Valley, East Penn, Tamaqua, Lehighton, Hometown, Walker, New Ringgold and ambulance from Tamaqua.West Penn Police Chief Brian Johnson, who was first to arrive on scene, said the attached garage was fully engulfed when he arrived. He added, the cause of the fire, which appeared to originate near the electrical box and refrigerator in the garage, is still undetermined.West Penn Township Fire Chief Dennis Fritzinger said the home's occupants escaped safely thanks to a little help."The family dog actually alerted the family of the fire," Fritzinger said.The blaze, which left five family members homeless, was brought under control in about one hour, Fritzinger said. The home was destroyed due to smoke and water damage, he said, adding that he believes the cause of the fire was electrical. An investigation continues.Family members managed to save three dogs and two rabbits. Firefighters mentioned that they could see the orange glow from SR-443.Schuylkill and Eastern Northumberland Chapter of the American Red Cross and the West Penn fire police volunteers also responded.Family members gave life-saving credit to their pet, Lily, a 2-year-old female Chihuahua, for alerting them to the fire."If it wasn't for Lily, who knows what would have happened," said Ron Wehr.Maggie Wehr added, "Lily jumped on me while I was sleeping and that is what woke me up."Family members plan on buying Lily and their other two pet dogs, two Italian greyhounds, Maxine and Sunny, well-deserved steaks. All the family members described Lily as "our little hero".The Wehr family expressed their appreciation to all their friends, family, firefighters, police, ambulance and Red Cross volunteers."The family lost everything," Major Sharon Whispell, Tamaqua Salvation Army, said. Whispell is asking people to mail or drop off monetary donations for the family to the Tamaqua Salvation Army.For check donations, Whispell asked people to put "Apple Jack Fire" in the memo line. The address is 105 West Broad St., Tamaqua PA 18252.