Cats die in Keizer house fire

KEIZER, Ore. – A man escaped a house fire Sunday night in Keizer, but several cats died, firefighters said.

It happened just after 8 p.m. at a home in the 6600 block of 14th Avenue NE.

A man who lived at the home escaped before fire crews arrived. He told firefighters he was downstairs watching TV when he heard glass breaking upstairs, where he found heavy smoke in the kitchen.

Several cats died of smoke inhalation, firefighters said.

It’s unclear what caused the fire. It caused an estimated $150,000 in damage.