Brown County firefighters responded to two early morning fires on Thursday, one of which resulted in the loss of one family’s home.

At approximately 3:45 a.m., Zephyr Volunteer Fire Department responded to a barn/storage shed fire on County Road 271 in Zephyr.  The barn was used as shelter for two bottle fed baby goats which perished in the blaze.

The fire was determined to have been caused by heat lamps used to keep the baby goats warm, according to Brownwood Fire Marshal Buddy Preston.

Approximately three hours later, at 6:45 a.m., fire crews were dispatched to a house fire in the 5500 block of County Road 345 north of Early.  Preston stated the home was a total loss, gutted by the fire, and that no cause had been determined as of Thursday morning.  The home owners, a man and his wife, along with their two children (ages 11 and 12) were not at home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported as a result of the fire, according to Preston.

Early Volunteer Fire Department had been called to the home earlier in the week for a small fire behind a dryer in the home, causing mostly smoke damage in the home.

According to Preston, the homeowners had just moved everything into the front room of the home, so that they could begin painting Thursday; however, the fire began in the front room on Thursday morning and was reported to have “gutted” the home.  “The family lost everything,” said Preston.

Early Volunteer Fire Department, Brownwood Fire Department and Zephyr Volunteer Department responded to the house fire.

Pictured above and below are photos of the home which burned Thursday morning.  Photos contributed.