TRINITY — A house fire sent a man to a local hospital Thursday morning and left him and his wife with no place to stay.

The couple lost their home in the 600 block of North Seneca Drive and most of the possessions inside, said Trinity Fire Chief Bill Pettey. The fire destroyed the front of the house and the bedroom they were sleeping in when it started late Wednesday night, he said.

The man suffered smoke inhalation but is expected to recover, Pettey said. A dog also had to be carried out of the house after Pettey found it gasping for air on the floor.

“We resuscitated the dog with oxygen, and it seemed to come out of it,” he said. “It coughed a little bit and then got up. I assume it’s doing better today.”

The woman awoke to the smell of smoke from a fire that firefighters believe started on the front porch, he said. When Trinity firefighters arrived at 12:10 a.m. Thursday, the house was fully involved, Pettey said.

Crews fought the fire for about 2 1/2 hours.

Significant damage

“They can’t stay in the house because it has significant fire damage to the front portion,” he said. “There is also water and smoke damage throughout the house, but the couple does have insurance.”

Pettey said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but initial reports indicate it was accidental.