Saugus firefighters overcame challenges to extinguish a house fire.
Although they could see the fire, getting to it wasn't easy.
Saugus Deputy Fire Chief Tom D'Eon told WCVB: "It's a very steep grade right here. It's a tight neighborhood. We're up on a hill. It's very challenging to get the apparatus in. We were able to get the engine in here. But we had to utilize ground ladders instead of the aerial because we couldn't get the aerial up there."
Firefighters also were told there was possibly someone barricaded inside.
But, that wasn't the case. Police said the homeowner was disoriented and upset about his pets.
Two officers managed to get the man and his pets out of the house.
The fire is under investigation by the state fire marshals office.
A firefighter suffered a dog bite while trying to rescue it. The officers and homeowner were transported for smoke inhalation.
