File Photo – North Chicago Fire Department. | Photo: Northern IL Fire Photography.

Authorities said that four dogs were found dead following a fire that caused damage to a home in North Chicago on Friday.

The North Chicago Fire Department responded around 6:33 p.m. Friday to the 2000 block of Kristan Avenue in North Chicago for a report of a structure fire.

Firefighters arrived on the scene to find a small single-story residence that had heavy smoke showing from multiple areas of the home.

Residents told firefighters that several dogs were possibly still inside the home and trapped in the blaze.

Firefighters found the origin of the fire on the first floor after reportedly encountering hoarder-like conditions, a source told Lake and McHenry County Scanner.

The fire was extinguished in approximately 20 minutes and no injuries were reported.

City of North Chicago Community Information Coordinator Jim Moran said that fire crews later discovered four dogs deceased inside the residence.

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The cause of the fire was not immediately known and it remains under investigation, Moran said. A damage estimate was not available.

The North Chicago Fire Department was assisted by the Waukegan, Lake Bluff, Great Lakes and Beach Park fire departments.