Five dogs died Wednesday afternoon in a house fire started by a dog that apparently started a stove’s burner controls, according to Knoxville Fire Department Capt. D.J. Corcoran.

KFD was sent about 12:25 p.m. to the house at 5837 Outer Drive near Western Avenue.

Heavy smoke poured from the open front door of the house, according to Corcoran. A neighbor had kicked in the door after seeing smoke and hearing dogs inside barking as the heat intensified.

Six dogs were in the house, according to Corcoran. One made it out after the neighbor kicked in the door.

The other dogs died in the fire, according to Corcoran.

The fire started in the kitchen. Investigators believe one of the dogs started it, while “trying to get to food left on the counter near the stove.”

According to Corcoran, the dog accidentally “pawed the burner controls” on the front of the oven.

The homeowner was away but arrived later, according to the KFD spokesman.

Corcoran said the fire circumstances are not uncommon. He cautioned that stoves with control knobs at the front can pose a hazard if children or animals are around. (WBIR)