A 42-year-old man dragged his disabled elderly mother from the flames that burned their home in the 2800 block of Villa Ramon Drive on Monday morning but two dogs weren't so lucky.

The house was filled with smoke and flames during the brave rescue by the man who sustained only smoke inhalation and singed hair.

Fire broke out at 6:42 a.m. in the neighborhood three blocks south of Whitmore Avenue. The first calls indicated that someone was trapped inside the burning home. However, the elderly homeowner's son had pulled her to safety. She sustained smoke inhalation and was hospitalized while the son refused treatment.

Attempts to go back inside the woman's bedroom where the fire started to retrieve the family pets were hampered by the growing heat from the fire. When firefighters found the dogs they spent approximately 15 minutes trying cardiopulmonary resuscitation but they expired, according to Battalion Chief Rich Scola.

The fire was under control in about 20 minutes after the fire spread quickly to other rooms of the house. A total of 24 firefighters engaged in battling the flames. They came Ceres, Modesto Regional and Stanislaus Consolidated fire departments.

Ceres Fire Chief Bryan Nicholes said the damage was extensive and probably will cost $50,000 to $75,000 in repairs.

Because the fire is still under investigation Nicholes was unable to say exactly how the fire started.