Electrical issue, dead smoke alarm blamed in Roswell house fire that firefighters found dog hiding from

An electrical issue likely caused the Aug. 16 house fire on Ashton Drive in Roswell, and the home's smoke alarm was not functioning when the blaze broke out, Roswell Fire Department investigators determined.

The determination, reported by Appen Media on Thursday, Aug. 20, closes the investigation into the fire that damaged a two-story home while its two residents were away.

No one was injured.

Firefighters did rescue a dog that had been hiding under an upstairs bed, administering oxygen through a pet mask and giving it water before reuniting it with its owners.

The fire started just after 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 16. A neighbor spotted smoke and called 911, and the first crew arrived within six minutes. Firefighters saw smoke pouring from the home's roof vents, entered the structure and found flames on the first floor.

Crews fought the fire from inside while simultaneously searching for occupants. They found the dog upstairs, pulled it out and brought it to safety. The animal was uninjured.

The Roswell Fire Department credited the neighbor's quick 911 call with helping limit the damage, and urged residents to keep watching out for one another.

Smoke alarm wasn't working

Despite having a smoke alarm installed, the device was not working at the time of the fire. Investigators did not specify whether the alarm's battery was dead or whether the unit had another malfunction.

City officials used the finding to issue a public safety reminder: test smoke detectors and fire alarms monthly, and replace batteries at least once a year.

The Roswell Fire Department posted on its official X account that the cause was under investigation shortly after the fire. That post confirmed the six-minute response time and the dog rescue before the cause had been determined.

Residents with non-emergency questions can reach the Roswell Fire Department at 770-641-3730.