Amherst, NY - A resident escaped safely, but two cats died Sunday, March 25, in a fire that extensively damaged a home at 81 Lamont Drive in Amherst, fire officials said.

After a neighbor reported the fire at 2:55 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find the house fully ablaze and requested a second alarm, Chief Michael Boehm of the Eggertsville Hose Company said.

Officials said the fire originated in a breezeway area and was brought under control in about 30 minutes.

Firefighters from Eggertsville, North Bailey and Snyder Fire companies were on scene to extinguish the flames.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation, but officials estimated damage at $125,000 to the building and $75,000 to the contents.