A house fire in Stratford displaced seven people and four dogs early Sunday afternoon.

Firefighters say it took about a half-hour to get the fire under control at 200 Light St. around 12:30 p.m.

They say the fire caused "significant damage" to the pool deck in the rear of the home. It is believed the fire was sparked by fireplace ashes left outside in a garbage bag.

A witness who called 911 to report the fire said he was impressed by the quick response from firefighters.

When discarding ashes from a fireplace or wood stove, firefighters say they should be placed inside a metal container only. They also recommend saturating the ashes with water and placing them far away from the house or any other structure that might ignite.