MACHIAS – Two cats, four hamsters and a parakeet were lost in a house fire Friday afternoon that caused an estimated $30,000 in damage.

Two dogs in the house were saved by neighbors of the single-family home at 27 Court St. where Sherry Hews and her three children resided, according to Machias Fire Chief John Hennessey.

The fire was spotted by neighbors at 2:40 p.m.

As many as 30 firefighters responded from departments in Machias, Marshfield, Machiasport and East Machias.

The cause was a grease fire on the kitchen stove, Hennessey said.

No one was home at the time. Hews and her children had just left, the chief said. Most of the house was damaged by smoke and water.

Firefighters remained on the scene for more than four hours. The Hews family was staying with neighbors Friday night.