Working fire alarms are being credited for saving a group of people from a devastating early morning fire in Sparkill.

The homeowner at 14 Robert Hagan Court says he woke up at 4 a.m. to the sound of the fire alarms and the smell of smoke. He says he ran into his daughter’s room, grabbed her out of bed, and ran out of the house. The homeowner says he, two baby sitters and his two kids were all inside, but were able to get out OK. However, the family dog died in the flames.

After the family escaped, the homeowner says the whole house went up in flames. It took crews from Sparkill, Orangeburg and Tappan nearly four hours to put out the blaze. Most of the house is completely destroyed.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.