BURLINGTON — Crew responded to a fire at Burlington home Wednesday evening, which was described as a near-total loss.

“About 90 percent was destroyed,” Burlington Fire Department assistant chief Chris Vaughn said. “We were able to salvage some things – a lot of family pictures.”

Vaughn said seven people lived in the home, located at the corner of township roads 1026 and 1027 (Jefferson and Fourth streets), but all escaped unarmed.

“They were able to get out before the smoke was too bad,” he said.

Vaughn said two pets, a puppy and cat, were killed in the fire, while they were unable to account for another.

Vaughn said he was the first on scene for the fire, which took place around 5 p.m., and that crews had trouble navigating the home because of the remodeling involved.

“They were converting it into an apartment situation,” he said.

He said the fact that the fire occurred in the daytime may have saved the lives of the occupants.

He said he heard no working smoke alarms upon arriving.

He said two people also lived on a trailer in the property.

An aerial truck was called in from Huntington to assit Ohio crews, he said.

There were children living at the home and Vaughn said that the American Red Cross is handling donations for the family.

The fire remains under investigation.