The blare of a smoke detector alerted the first-grader that something was wrong.

"I hate that beeping noise. It's so high pitched," Carter said.

Carter said he saw flames on the front porch on Clay Street and warned his grandmother. Carter's mother was also inside the home.

"My mom was in the shower, then she had to quickly get her clothes on," Carter said.

The family made it out safely with their dog but Carter was worried about other pets inside.

"We went out to get the dog but I don't think my cats are still alive," Carter said.

Even though firefighters worked fast they believe the house is likely destroyed.

"We got the fire out with 30 firefighters in about 15 minutes," Capt. Jarad McCam of the Belmont Fire Department said.

No injuries were reported.

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U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff waves to a crowd of supporters during his "Rally For Our Republic" event on Saturday, July 12, 2025, inside the Kehoe Iron Works building at Trustees Garden in Savannah. During his speech, Ossoff said, "What’s happening to our country right now should chill us to the bone." (Sarah Peacock for the AJC)

Credit: Sarah Peacock for the AJC