Firefighters and paramedics revived a dog that passed out from a lack of oxygen Saturday night when a fire broke out at a home in Greenville.

The fire, which caused about $20,000 damage to the house at 229 Clinton Street owned by Sheila DeArment, started sometime around 10 p.m., a news release from Greenville Fire Department said.

Ms. DeArment was not home at the time, according to firefighters, who responded to the blaze at 10:11 p.m.

Firefighters found Ms. DeArment's pet dog, unconscious and barely breathing, in a smoky second floor bedroom. Paramedics and firefighters revived the dog outside with oxygen before taking it to a veterinarian.

It took firefighters about two hours to put out the fire, which apparently started near an entertainment center in the first floor living room. Firefighters said the cause may have been electrical, but are still investigating. They ruled the fire accidental.

The fire was contained to the living room, causing about $20,000 in heavy but repairable damage to the first and second floors.

There were three smoke alarms in the home but their batteries had been removed, the news release said.

A fireman said Sunday that Ms. DeArment was staying elsewhere because of heavy smoke damage to her home. Attempts to contact her were unsuccessful.