SPRINGPORT - A family lost their home and their bird, but gained a hero.

The Burnetts' 15-year-old daughter woke them up Wednesday morning with a bloodcurdling scream, Dawn Burnett said. Her daughter had seen flames in the kitchen when she was coming out of the bathroom after showering. The rest of the family remained asleep.

Union Springs Fire Chief Garret Waldron said the home at 5450 Lockwood was a loss. The station received the call around 6:30 a.m.

"The fire was hard to fight because of the construction," Waldron said. A portion of the home was a metal mobile home that was extended. Springport Fire Department had to bring in an apparatus to cut the roof off to better tackle the fire, Waldron said.

Fleming, Aurelius, Cayuga, Owasco and Springport fire departments assisted, and Mutual Aid was standing by.

Dawn and her husband, Todd, took their three children to neighbors and came back to watch the blaze work its way from the garage, through the breezeway, and into the kitchen.

Waldron confirmed the fire began in the garage, which was full of miscellaneous items.

The Cayuga County Fire Investigators is looking into the cause of the fire.

After firefighter doused the coals, and investigators shifted through the black ash, Union Springs Fire Department Lt. Jessica Waldron went through the standing portion of the single-story home, collecting requested items.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Citizen.