Three people were displaced and multiple puppies were rescued from a house fire Monday evening in Long Beach, authorities said.

Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) personnel were dispatched to the scene on the 1400 block of Lemon Avenue about 6:47PM, with the first arriving units at 6:50PM, said LBFD spokesperson Jake Heflin.

Upon arrival, units observed light smoke coming from a single family residence.

As they began fire suppression operations, firefighters found an individual, who did not live at the home, using a garden hose on the fire.

“The actions of that individual helped keep the fire in check,” Heflin said.

Three people lived in the home, but only a 19-year-old man was home at the time of the fire. He exited his bedroom and saw smoke down to the ground, Heflin said. The man then attempted to run out the front door but it was too hot and he eventually managed to get out a back door.

The man was transported to a local hospital by LBFD paramedics for smoke inhalation and burns to his hands.

The living room and kitchen sustained significant damage as a result of the fire. Firefighters also discovered a separate small fire in the rear of the house and were able to quickly extinguish it, Heflin said.

While extinguishing the fire inside the residence, firefighters found multiple puppies throughout the house and were able to rescue them by providing oxygen therapy to them.

Heflin said Animal Care Services was called in to assist. He also said that he did not know the exact number of how many puppies were found but did say they found a “handful.”

The fire was extinguished and the scene was declared all clear at about 6:55PM.

Three people, including the 19-year-old man, his 44-year-old mother and 48-year-old uncle were displaced as a result of the fire. The American Red Cross responded to assist the family with lodging, Heflin said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, and no further information is available. We will update this story as we learn more.