An elderly woman and her granddaughter lost everything when fire swept through their Dexter home.

According to WABI-TV, the fire was reported just before 5:00 on Wednesday afternoon.Fire officials say the 70-year-old woman and her 10-year-old granddaughter were raking the lawn when they spotted smoke coming out of the house on the Goff Road. By the time crews arrived, the home was totally engulfed in flames. It's believed a dog and bird perished in the fire, while a cat they were able to get out safely ran into the woods.

The State Fire Marshall's Office will now work to determine how the fire started and the Red Cross is working to help the family recover. The community is also rallying to help, so the Dexter Fire Department says a donation account will be set up today at a local credit union, and a drop-off location established. Information will be forthcoming on the fire department's Facebook page later today.

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