A dog was found dead while firefighters were responding to one of two overnight fires Saturday.
Firefighters responded to the 1500 block of South Maryland Parkway, near Oakey Boulevard, after a passer-by reported smoke and flames from a small house or business type building at 3:51 a.m.
Firefighters arrived and had to force entry into the small house which appears to have been converted into an office.
The fire was in what once was the living room and was put out in a few minutes. The fire was confined to the one room but firefighters said the rest of the building was filled with thick smoke.
As firefighters searched the building they found a large deceased dog in a rear room which at one time was a bedroom. No one was on scene that owns the property.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. The fire caused an estimated $20,000 damage.
Earlier in the night, firefighters responded to the 2100 block of Ballard Drive, near Eastern Avenue and Charleston Boulevard, at 12:25 a.m. A passer-by reported smoke coming from an apartment.
When firefighters arrived they found squatters in a vacant apartment of the one story apartment building with a warming fire. The fire was extinguished and firefighters determined there was no damage. The apartment was secured after the squatters left.
