A smoky house fire in east Erie on Sunday claimed the life of a dog and left a resident suffering from smoke inhalation.

Firefighters responded around 7:30 p.m. for a house full of smoke on E. 12th St. between Brewster St. and Pennsylvania Ave.

The fire started in the kitchen while the occupant was away, according to Deputy Chief Fred Gillespie.

The man came home to find heavy smoke throughout his home. His dog was found dead near the front door.

The resident himself was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters found that the fire burned itself out in the kitchen.

An investigator is looking into exactly what caused the fire.