A woman is dead after she ran back into a burning home to try to rescue a dog in an overnight fire in Pickering.

The dog also died in the fire which broke out at about 4:12 a.m. Wednesday outside the home at 1223 Fawndale Rd., near Kingston and Altona roads. Pickering Fire Services arrived at the scene at 4:16 a.m., said Steve Fowlds, chief fire prevention officer for the service.

“There were three people in the house. A mother, a son and a daughter-in-law. Initially, they all got out, but one went back in to search for a dog,” Fowlds said.

The son used a garden hose to unsuccessfully fight the fire, Fowlds added.

The two who stayed out were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and were later released.

“The fire started outside. There were working smoke alarms,” he said.

A next-door neighbour, Ismat Jafri, said she’s heartbroken about the loss of such a “lovely, lovely lady.”

“They are a wonderful, friendly family, and it’s heartbreaking to see it happen,” Jafri said.

Jafri said she feels terrible that she can’t help the family in their time of need due to the strict public health guidelines surrounding COVID-19.

“There’s nothing we can do to help them . . . and it’s hard enough as is these days,” Jafri said.

She said she rarely saw the neighbours’ dog, but said that they were clearly “very fond” of their pet.

An investigator with the Ontario Fire Marshal was on the scene Wednesday morning. The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined.

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Fowlds noted that there is “significant damage to the main floor and smoke damage in the building.

“We want to remind people to have a home escape plan and have an outside meeting place. Once you’re out, stay out,” Fowlds said.

With files from Ted Fraser