Woman, 2 pets die in Brookline house fire

Pittsburgh firefighters responding to a structure fire Tuesday night in Brookline found a woman dead inside the house, according to city public safety officials.

Two pets, a dog and a cat, also died, a public safety spokeswoman said.

The fire in the 2000 block of Pioneer Avenue was reported shortly before 10:30 p.m. First responders encountered heavy smoke and flames at the back of the two-story house when they arrived, according to the city’s Public Safety Department.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and entered the home, where they found the woman dead on the first floor along with the dog and the cat.

Another cat survived and was cared for by the city’s Animal Care and Control Department.

Investigators from the fire bureau and the city’s homicide unit said the fire appears to have started in the home’s kitchen and is believed to be accidental.