OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A house fire in northeast Omaha’s Ponca Hills has killed more a dozen family pets.

The fire was reported around 7 p.m. near North 60th and McKinley streets.

No one was home when the fire started Tuesday night.

Fourteen animals, all cats and dogs, where inside the home at the time. All but one cat died.

Witnesses say the fire started in the kitchen and was contained there, but the smoke proved deadly to the animals.

Ponca Hills Fire Chief Joel Sacks says the animals were scattered throughout the house, and it took firefighters a while to find them all.

The Red Cross went to the home along with several neighbors to tend to the couple who live in the home.