A Peachtree City family is on the road to recovery after a Saturday night fire damaged their home and killed their three pets.

The blaze started while the family had been out of the house to see a movie, said Nancy Swygert, who was most upset about losing the family dogs, Ariel and DJ, and the family cat, Rosey.

Swygert’s husband Andy opened the front door in an attempt to get inside and save the three family pets, but the heat and smoke were too intense, she said.

“Other than when my mother died, this is the worst day of my life,” Swygert said.

On the positive side, however, she said “our neighbors have been great” and the insurance company is taking care of arranging temporary housing while the home is repaired.

Firefighters were able to mount a quick attack because a volunteer had been staying overnight at the nearest fire station, allowing for two persons to respond on the first fire engine, officials said. The cause of the fire is undetermined, officials said.