A woman and her dog were killed in a house fire in Dutchess County this weekend.

Neighbor Carrie Santiago says it was about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday when neighbors ran out in their pajamas to the burning house at 11 Lakeview Road in the town of Lagrange.

Santiago is still shaken by what she saw this weekend. "I opened up the blinds and I saw flames coming out of the roof and I yelled at my husband, 'oh my God Dawn's house is on fire.'"
They tried desperately to get to their neighbor, but the flames and heat were just too much for them. "We all were screaming banging on the doors, kicking the doors and then the next thing, the house, it happened so fast," says Santiago.

Seven different departments tackled the blaze, and the fire took nearly two hours to put out. Firefighters say they found the female occupant deceased once they were able to get inside.

Investigators have not yet released the victim's name, but neighbors say her name was Dawn. She was in her late 50s and kept to herself, but was never without her beloved dog. "She was a nice lady when we did see her she'd wave, she'd have the dog in the car with her wherever she went, and the dog was loving," says Santiago.

Investigators are back on the scene today. At this point they say it looks as though the fire may have started in the basement and does not appear to be suspicious.