The blaze started at 2:25 p.m. on Jan. 4 in the rear bedroom of a single-story home at 976 Coe Ave.

Three fire engines, two truck companies and two battalion chiefs responded to the fire and were able to contain the fire to the one room, according to fire Capt. Alberto Olmos.

Resident Ted Freitas believed an electrical gadget plugged in the wall started the fire. He was able to extinguish most of the fire except for the mattresses, which continued to burn.

He, along with his brother Jeffery Pfeffer, were able to get their mother, homeowner Elizabeth Pfeffer, two other children, and an orange canary out of the house. Elizabeth Pfeffer's pooch, Muffin, was still in the house when the San Jose Fire Department arrived.

"The family told me where she was," San Jose firefighter Greg Hamane said. "It wasn't anything heroic."

Muffin, a small white dog ,was hiding in the bathroom and was reluctant to leave.

"That's where we all go when we're scared," Hamane said.

According to the firefighters, the fire was contained to one room. The blaze did melt a television.

The San Jose Fire Department said the fire is still under investigation.