Four people are homeless, three displaced and a dog died after a two-alarm fire in Mahanoy City Wednesday.

An employee of the Schuylkill County Communications Center said the fire was called in at 9:34 a.m.

Mahanoy City Fire Chief Dan Markiewicz said when he arrived minutes later he called for the second alarm.

He said “heavy smoke and fire” was coming out of the second floor of 632 E. Mahanoy Ave. A passerby noticed the fire and called 911. Markiewicz said it started in the first floor kitchen.

In all homes at 628,630, 632, 634, and 636 were damaged. Both 632 and 630 were gutted, the chief said. He did not have a damage estimate. Homes at 628, 634 and 636 have smoke and water damage with 634 also having fire damage.

Firefighters had to cut holes in the roofs. The fire spread up the wall of 632 to 630, he said. Residents were not home at 632 and the other home was being renovated and not lived in, Markiewicz said.

The fire was under control at 11:30 a.m.

State police fire marshal John Burns was on scene investigating after being called by Markiewicz because of the number of homes affected. The chief said Burns’ investigation determined it was an accidental unintentional fire that started in the stove area of the kitchen.

Salvador Teron, 42, his wife Raquel Vargas, 42, and their children Messaih Teron, 16, and Raquel Teron, 17, were not home at the time. Alley, a 1-year-old Shitzu, died in the fire. Firefighters found her on the first floor. Teron said he left for work at 6 a.m. and everything was fine. A neighbor alerted him to the fire. Teron said his neighbor was kicking in the door to rescue to dog who he described an emotional support animal.

Teron, who owns the home, said he has lived there since 2013. He has insurance and had working smoke detectors. Still, that was of little consolation to him because of the tragedy.

“There’s no preparing for this,” he said.

Employees of the 911 center collected donations to pay for the cremation of Alley and an urn engraved with her name.

His children don’t know about the fire.

“Emotionally it’s a freaking roller coaster,” he said.

The American Red Cross was on scene to provide food, lodging and clothing.

“The Red Cross is amazing,” he said.

Three people from 628 were displaced, Grace Walters, 65, Douglas Garloff, 61, and Alisa Walters, 37, Patty Daley, disaster responder supervisor with the American Red Cross said.

Homes at 634 and 636 were vacant.

Responding to the scene were fire departments from Mahanoy City, Shenandoah, Frackville, Butler Township, Ryan Township, Hometown, Tamaqua, Pottsville Rapid Intervention, and Minersville for standby at the West End station. Mahanoy City, Ashland and Shenandoah EMS responded as did the Hometown fire police for traffic control.