Crews battling a house fire early Thursday morning in Howland Township used animal oxygen masks to save some family pets.

The Howland Township Fire Department, with assistance from the Cortland Fire Department, responded to a fire at a home on the 1400 block of North Road.

Officials said the fire broke out in a dishwasher, filling the house with smoke.

The couple living at the home got out unharmed before crews arrived.

Crews say they quickly extinguished the fire.

Firefighters rescued three cats by giving them oxygen with special cone-shaped masks.

Officials said the masks were donated to various departments by the Animal Welfare League.

The fire remains under investigation.