In a tragic incident in Washington State, approximately 40 dogs perished in a house fire early Friday morning. The home, belonging to a self-proclaimed dog breeder, was consumed by flames, according to local authorities.

At around 2:30 a.m., firefighters rushed to the scene in Poulsbo after a vigilant neighbor noticed the blaze and promptly alerted 911, as stated by Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue.

The neighbor informed responders that there might have been individuals inside the residence, which was completely engulfed in flames upon the firefighters’ arrival.

Police managed to reach the homeowner by tracing the vehicle license plates found at the site, which led to discovering a contact number. The homeowner, who was not present during the fire, arrived shortly thereafter.

Firefighters faced the daunting task of battling the intense flames at the Poulsbo residence on January 16, 2026, as reported by Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue.

Fire officials said that while no people were at the home at the time of the fire, dozens of animals were inside.

“Firefighters were able to rescue three dogs, but unfortunately approximately 40 other dogs perished in the fire,” Ileana LiMarzi, a public information officer with the fire department, said in the statement.

Firefighters rescued three dogs out of the dozens that were inside the home at the time of the fire, officials said. (Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue )

LiMarzi told KOMO News that around a dozen cats also perished in the fire.

“It’s a tough call, and it’s certainly not a situation that we’ve run into, as far as I know, in my 15 years here,” she told the outlet.

Fire officials did not immediately release the identity of the homeowner, though they said that he claimed to be a dog breeder.

The cause of the fire was unclear. The Kitsap County Fire Marshal has launched an investigation. (Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue )

The three rescued dogs were released to Kitsap Animal Control for further care.

No further information about the animals found at the home was immediately available.

The Kitsap County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.