Oxford firefighters were called to 1375 Red Barn Dr. in Oxford Township Sunday night to battle a house fire.

The home’s three occupants – a 28-year-old man, his 37-year-old girlfriend and his 53-year-old mother – were at a nearby laudromat on M-24 when the fire started, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s report.

When they returned shortly before 9 p.m., the 37-year-old girlfriend smelled something and could hear smoke alarms going off while outside the home. When she opened the door, “thick black smoke hit me in the face,” she wrote in her statement to deputies.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Dave Creech, “the fire started in the kitchen” in the area where the stove and microwave were located. “They said they had not used the stove that day,” Creech said. “They had used the microwave, but had unplugged it prior to leaving.”

The fire was primarily confined to the kitchen, but “it did get into the attic just a little bit,” the chief noted.

Creech reported there was smoke damage throughout the house and water damage in the kitchen, living room and basement. “I estimated (there was) about $70,000 in structural damage and $20,000 in content loss,” he said.

There were three dogs inside the home when the fire erupted. All of them were rescued.

“We did give oxygen to one dog (while) on scene,” Creech said.

Per standard procedure, the fire is under investigation.