Police Rescue Woman, Dog in House Fire

Police rescued a woman and her dog on Sunday from a house fire, Livermore Police Lt. Matt Sarsfield said.

At about 10:15 a.m. a pair of officers were walking on the 1600 block of Locust Street when they spotted smoke coming from a house.

The officers went to the residence and saw the front of the home was engulfed in flames.

"They heard a woman screaming for help," Sarsfield said.

The two officers kicked a hole through a neighboring fence so the woman and her dog could crawl out, Sarsfield said.

The blaze, which caused major damage to the home, was extinguished by firefighters at about 10:30 a.m., said Joe Testa, Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department battalion chief.

The origin of the fire was determined to be from a bedroom, Testa said.

"We were unable to isolate the exact cause due to the degree of fire damage to the home," he said.

Officials said the initial estimated loss is $200,000 to the house itself and $100,000 in contents.

The homeowner is working through her insurance company to secure temporary housing, Testa said.

A cat was killed in the fire. No other injuries were reported.