Family, pet turtle safe in South Bend residential fire Sunday

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The South Bend Fire Department responded to a residential house fire in the 3000 block of Surrey Lane at approximately 3:50 in the afternoon on Sunday.  

"Upon arrival crews were met with heavy smoke coming from the chimney, eaves, and attic space. The occupants of the home had self-evacuated and were found to be in a car across the street from the structure," South Bend Fire Department officials said. "There was a hole found in the floor inside the structure. There was one loss of a family guinea pig and a save of one family pet turtle. Red Cross was called for the family at the scene."

There were no report of injuries to firefighters, and the origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation.

More information may be released in the future as it becomes available and this story could be updated.