The fire killed the homeowner's pet cat, police said.
MANCHESTER -- Officers saved a pet dog from a Christmas Day fire that severely damaged a house, but the homeowner's cat died in the blaze.
No one was inside the residence on the 1800 block of Newark Avenue in the Roosevelt City section of town when the fire started around 2:33 p.m. on Sunday, Capt. Todd Malland, of the Manchester Police Department, said.
Malland said the first officers on the scene saw flames shooting from the roof, and fallen live electrical wires and heavy smoke prevented them from entering the house.
The officers entered the home once JCP&L cut power to the lines, Malland said. Patrolmen Ryan Saul and Mark Micciulla were able to rescue a pet golden retriever from the home's garage. However, firefighters later found a dead cat in the home.
Manchester police dispatch was able to reach the homeowner, who told the dispatcher no one was inside the home.
Malland said the fire severely damaged the house and township officials are working with the homeowner to find alternate living arrangements.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
It is under investigation by the Manchester Police Department, with assistance from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and Ocean County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigations unit.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.