Three humans and about 20 pets escaped from a burning house on St Joe’s North End Tuesday.

Kelli Ingersoll and her family rescued 16 dogs, including a litter of six puppies, from her home at 3003 Burnside Ave. They also rescued two pet iguanas and a couple of pet birds. Three of Ingersoll’s prized birds, including two large macaws, perished in the fire.

None of the three humans inside the home was injured by the fire, which was reported to dispatchers shortly after 10am. Ingersoll says the fire started in the laundry room.

St Joseph Fire Department Inspector Rob Blizzard says there were some problems in that laundry room.  Mr Blizzard blames the fire on some lint coming into contact with a heating element in a clothes dryer.   Blizzard pegged the damage to the structure and contents at about $70 thousand.

The residents will stay with family. It appears at least some of the dogs will stay in the neighbor’s yard.