Photo by NASHUA FIRE RESCUE A resident of 33 June St. walks out with firefighters after being reunited with Charlie, his dog, after Sunday night's fire.

NASHUA – A pet cat was unfortunately lost, but three people and their dog managed to escape their burning home late Sunday night – despite the fact the house had no smoke detectors, fire officials said.

Nashua Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Karl Gerhard said Monday that firefighters were summoned around 9:30 p.m. to 33 June St. Upon arrival, they reported heavy fire coming from the rear of the ranch-style residence.

The occupant who reported the fire had been sleeping, Gerhard said, but luckily “awoke to an odor in the home.” He or she got up to investigate, and discovered the fire, he added.

First-arriving crews from the Lake Street and East Hollis Street stations “rapidly attacked” the fire and contained it to the kitchen and dining rooms, Gerhard said.

Discovering that flames had extended into an attic area above the rooms, firefighters pulled down the ceilings to access, and fully extinguish, the fire.

Upon learning a cat and a dog were missing, crews searched the house, first locating the deceased cat, Gerhard said. They then went looking for the dog – named “Charlie” – believing he had escaped and was at large.

But a short time later, Charlie turned up, showing no visible signs of heat or smoke exposure, and was reunited with his family, Gerhard said.

One Nashua firefighter, who Gerhard didn’t identify, suffered a hand injury while battling the blaze. He was taken to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, where he was treated and later released, Gerhard said.

The blaze was declared under control 14 minutes from the time crews were dispatched, he added.

The house sustained fire, smoke and some water damage, and is uninhabitable for the time being. Gerhard said the residents made arrangements to stay with family members.

Representatives of the state Fire Marshal’s office are conducting the investigation into the cause of the blaze, Gerhard said.

A message left with the agency seeking any updates on the investigation wasn’t immediately returned.

The lack of smoke detectors in the home, which is part of a large neighborhood built in the late 1960s and early 70s between South Main Street and the Merrimack River, prompted Gerhard to issue a safety reminder.

“Every home needs smoke detectors installed,” he said, adding that every floor of a home should have a smoke detector, and there should be one inside each bedroom.

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