A kitchen fire damaged a home in the 500 block of Fifth Avenue on Christmas night.

Two fire trucks, an ambulance and a police car responded to the fire shortly after 7:30 pm.

Fire Chief Stephen Welgat said the fire in the kitchen was extinguished quickly. But the house was significantly damaged by smoke and water, he said.

A dog perished in the fire, Welgat said.

He said the house is unlivable, and the 1-800 Boardup service found lodgings for the home’s occupants.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Tuesday; Welgat said the fire apparently started in the “oven area” of the kitchen.

On Monday afternoon, the fire department was dispatched to a home in the 200 block of Beach Street South. However, the fire trucks were called off en route, as a police officer who responded had determined that the fire was already out.