A state fire marshal ruled the blaze accidental, Davis said. Damage to the home owned by Rodney Downing was estimated at $50,000, Davis said.

Davis did not know exactly what caused the electrical short in the living room, but said several items were taken from the house to be investigated.

The 2 1/2-story housee at 43 Linden St. caught fire at about 3:30 p.m. It took firefighters about a half hour to get the blaze under control, Fire Chief Rick Reither said Saturday.

Two dogs died in the blaze and three were saved after they were found with the help of a thermal imaging camera, Reither said. No one was home at the time of the fire.