MACON, Ga. — A Macon family is family is without their home after a fire ripped through it early Tuesday morning.
13WMAZ spoke with neighbors who are happy everyone inside made it out alive.
“At first I thought they were barbecuing something, but then I saw the flames kind of rising high. That's when I hung the phone up and decided to call 911,” said Lauren Wilmer.
Chief Marvin Riggins with the Macon-Bibb County fire department says the home off Ayers Road caught fire around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday.
“I just know that it got progressively worse really fast. I did see the people that live there come out of the house,” said Troy Cunningham.
Fire crews worked throughout the morning to contain the fire and figure out how it started.
“The fire is still under investigation, but right now we believe it is from grilling yesterday. There was a grill on the back deck, it was still hot, it possibly burned up the side of the wall of the house into the attic,” said Battalion Chief Todd Alligood.
Alligood says four people and about eight dogs made it out of the house safely.
“They're just nice people, cool people, quiet, don't bother anybody, they have a bunch of dogs, they fix on their stuff, equipment and stuff, and play with their dogs,” Cunningham said.
Fire officials say the house has heavy smoke and water damage but neighbors say they will help get this family back on their feet.
“Since everybody noticed the fire, everybody has been outside of their houses just checking on them. I know a neighbor brought him a house coat, I'm probably going to bring dog food over later, anything we can do, it is really a neighborhood around here,” Wilmer said.
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